the Subtle Art of Mutations

The living world is full of natural variation - faces, eyes, hands, colors. As obvious or subtle as these variants may be, some nevertheless can catch the attention as perhaps more "off" from others.

Scientific illustrators have some of the most careful and observant eyes in the world, often moreso than scientist themselves. One such illustrator and artist - Cornelia Hesse-Honegger - has turned her power of observation into a powerful tool to re-present the shapes of living things that might signal changes and damage to the environment - such as effects of nuclear radiation from Chernobyl. In this way the insects she draws almost work as a sort of bioindicator.

This mini-zine by Monte Smith interprets her illustrations with wonderful line quality of his own.