Currently installed on every available interior surface, including the restrooms, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Black Cloud by Mexican artist, Carlos Amorales consists of 25.000 realistic black paper moths posed in sculptural swarms.

The installation made its debut in Paris of 2007 at Yvon Lambert and reappeared in a different form in an old church in 2009 as part of the Espacio AV of the same year. The piece takes days to install on site as each item must be individually placed and glued in its pre-planned formation. The result is not for the faint hearted souls who are scared of the inhabitants of the insect world and most especially not for the sufferers of Mottephobia!

The subject of insects is a common theme in the work of Carlos Amorales, the dark physical presence of which is occasionally overwhelming. No doubt, after running its course, the installation will be relegated to the artist’s archives once more awaiting its next appearance at an international venue.