A Cry For Help by Ben Everard

A Cry For Help is a set of seven illuminated sculptures that highlight the issue of insect population decline. Across the world, insect numbers are plummeting because of pesticides, habitat loss, climate change (and possibly other reasons we’re don’t fully understand).

While data on the size of the decline is fragmented, we used a figure of 75%, which is probably conservative.

Each of the seven insect sculptures is a geometric-styled insect and by default, only 25% of the segments are lit, indicating the approximate current population insects (compared to their historic levels). The sculpture animated these through different patterns.

However, the decline in insect populations isn’t pre-destined to continue. They can be helped. To highlight this, as someone approaches the sculpture, all the segments light up. This is to show the beauty of what a restored ecosystem could be. Alongside this animation, the patterns of light periodically change to show the colouring of different native species.

The insects are:
• Butterfly
• Bee
• Damselfly
• Moth
• Spider
• Caterpillar
• Fly

The series of sculptures were commissioned by The Lowery and RHS, and shown at Lightwaves (Salford Quays) and RHS Bridgewater.