Jane Jobling MRSS

Jane Jobling Statement

Although my sculptures can seem quite varied, for the past twenty years I have been continuously making work about boundaries, edges and surfaces to explore enclosing and revealing space. Material exploration and shadows created within the work, or produced as light passes through them, play key roles in the sculptures.

Recently I was struck by the similarity of a Queen wasp nest to the topological forms that I had made during my Practice-based PhD. Since then I have been making sculpture from paper that is informed by how different wasps make their nests. I aim to make my work more sustainable and to engage my audience in a dialogue about the vital role that wasps play in our environment.

I was aiming to explore the mathematical precision and architectural splendour of wasp nests; I was not expecting how fascinating I found the communication questions around wasps and how they coordinate the building of a communal nest. The term Stigmergy, an indirect form of communication, like a hint, was coined by Pierre-Paul Grasse to explain that, ‘in an insect society individuals work as if they were alone while their collective activities appear to be coordinated.’1

1. Theraulaz, Guy & Bonobeau, Eric. (1999). A Brief History of Stigmergy. Artificial Life

Jane Jobling was born in Yorkshire and now lives and works in Devon. She graduated from the Royal College and then completed a practice-based PhD at the University of Gloucestershire. She has exhibited widely and also considers teaching is an important part of her practice and has taught for many years.