A giant immersive pollen grain, Pollenarium will use more than 100 lenses, each one working as a camera obscura, to reveal an upside-down mosaic of the local landscape, showing how bees see the world.
This will be only the second time the artwork has been shown in public after it premiered with Creative Barking and Dagenham at Barking Riverside in London on 12 September.
Luke Jerram has a long-standing relationship with the University of Bristol. The artist donated Palm Temple, a strikingly colourful installation inspired by Florence Cathedral, which now sits outside the School of Chemistry. The University has also hosted several other artworks, including the trilogy of celestial installations, Museum of the Moon, Gaia, and Mars.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts and public engagement, Jerram was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University in 2020.
Pollenarium’s display will form part of the University’s 150th anniversary celebrations, which will see the University open its doors to the public.
More than 80 activities will take place at its Clifton Campus and the new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus (TQEC), which opened on 7 September next to Bristol Temple Meads station, inviting visitors to explore the University’s past, present and future.
The programme of events marking the occasion will be free, allowing visitors to drop in throughout the day. Some talks are ticketed due to anticipated demand.
Luke Jerram will also take part in a talk on biodiversity and the role of pollinators alongside Nick Wray, Curator at the University of Bristol Botanical Garden, in the new Sloane Robinson Building at TQEC.
Luke Jerram said: "I would like Pollenarium to inspire people to think about the insects they rarely notice. I have been preoccupied with the hidden and overlooked for a long time in my work.
“We need bees and insects to pollinate our food and feed our birds. In parts of China, they are already hand-pollinating fruit trees with little brushes; we really don't want to be in that position. It would be a complete disaster."
Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at the University of Bristol, said: “It’s incredibly exciting that Luke Jerram is bringing his newest installation to Bristol and that visitors joining us for our 150th anniversary celebrations will be able to experience our new campus from a bee’s-eye perspective.
Luke’s work encourages us to see the world differently and sparks curiosity about our relationship with the natural environment. As a university committed to addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainability, we are delighted to host an installation that inspires reflection, conversation and action.”
Visitors can experience Pollenarium from 12 to 5 pm on 10 October, and more information is available on the event website.
The installation forms part of a wider programme of artistic and cultural activity marking the anniversary.
Audiences can also look forward to a one-off live performance by Norwegian artist A K Dolven, exploring themes of belonging, identity and connection in Royal Fort Gardens, and a special exhibition at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection celebrating its 75th anniversary and showcasing unique objects, artwork and archival material that chart its rise to become one of the UK's leading collections of theatre and performance history.
Other events offer the chance to hear directly from some of the University’s most prominent researchers.
Highlights include a discussion by academics from the Department of History on exploring the history of history and why the continued study of history is important. A panel event featuring Professor Evelyn Welch, Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, and a panel of special guests from the city of Bristol will discuss universities’ role in a changing world.