Art has a unique ability to connect us with the natural world and inspire us to see familiar landscapes through new eyes. Through her work created for the Great Exhibition of Bees 2026, Rasmi invites us to reflect on the relationships that connect people, pollinators, and the ecosystems we all depend on.
As part of this year’s theme, We Are All Connected, Rasmi has contributed her artistic interpretation of a wild bee, joining nearly 200 artists from around the world who are helping to raise awareness about biodiversity through art.
In the article below, Rasmi shares her thoughts, experiences, and perspective on the natural world that inspires her creative practice.
We invite you to discover her artwork and read her story.
Ingrid Ravasi is a biologist with a lifelong passion for art. Through her project @ingridwildlines she uses art as a bridge to link people with biodiversity conservation, bringing the wonder of the wild closer to home. By sharing her work, she hopes to inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world and a collective commitment to caring for the wildlife and habitats that make up our precious ecosystems.
TOGETHER FOR BEES
Our tiny neighbours: protecting wild pollinators in our communities
Ingrid Ravasi | June 2026
When we think about bees, the honeybee is usually the first one that comes to mind. However, the true biodiversity of bees is far more diverse, complex, and colorful, ranging from solitary species to fluffy bumblebees and everything in between. Worldwide, there are more than 20,000 bee species, each playing a crucial role in maintaining the invisible ecological connections that make life on Earth possible.
To bring this hidden world to light, my artwork for The Great Exhibition of Bees focuses on one fascinating species: the Hairy-Footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes).
Often confused with the honeybee, it is actually one of our most overlooked wild pollinators. As one of the earliest wild bees to emerge in spring, it carries a big responsibility on its tiny, hairy shoulders: pollinating early-blooming plants when most other insects are still overwintering.
Unlike honeybees, this is a solitary species that does not build hives or produce honey. Instead, these bees nest quietly right beside us, occupying the tiny cracks of our brick walls, old masonry, and soft soil, yet we rarely notice their presence.
In my region, as in much of Europe, wild pollinators face mounting pressures. Habitat loss, landscape fragmentation, intensive urban development, and chemical pollution are threatening their survival.
Because they don’t have managed hives or human beekeepers to protect them, wild pollinators rely entirely on the quality of our shared environments. Fortunately, protecting them doesn’t always require complex conservation projects; it often starts with changing how we perceive and manage our local landscapes.
Understanding local biodiversity transforms a landscape from „just flowers and grass” into a heritage to be guarded and cherished. Here are some practical ways we can support wild bees:
- Providing Nesting Sites: Since solitary bees rely on tiny cavities, avoiding over-the-top sealing of old building cracks or preserving traditional mortar-free stone walls can preserve vital nesting spaces. Installing properly designed bee hotels in backyards or balconies can make any urban space more wild bee-friendly.
- Embracing the „Messy” Wild: To help wild bees, we need to rethink our aesthetic standards and welcome a bit of natural „disorder.” By participating in initiatives like the No Mow May movement or leaving a corner of our gardens untamed, we allow native wildflowers to grow. These patches of „weeds” are essential lifelines, providing continuous nectar and pollen throughout the season. Furthermore, tall grass and dead hollow stems create ready-made homes for solitary bees.
- Choosing Native Plants and Avoiding Pesticides: Even a small balcony can become a vital pit-stop for bees. Opt for native flowering plants and avoid pesticides.
Protecting wild pollinators is a simple, beautiful act of daily coexistence, and it begins right on our doorstep by making space for them!
Ingrid Ravasi (2026).
Artwork for the Great Exhibition of Bees, Together for Bees initiative.