Inspired by a New York Times article titled “If You See This Beautiful Insect Please Kill It, or Die, Beautiful Spotted Lanternfly, Die,” the performance Die Butterfly Die by Aristilde Kirby reflects on ideas of invasion, extinction, and the human desire to categorize forms of life as harmful or disposable.
As the second work in Kirby’s Shadow Install series, Die Butterfly Die uses silhouettes, dialogue, and theatrical action to create a contemporary parable about life amid natural and unnatural forms of death. The performance was accompanied by readings from Kirby’s poetry and invited reflection on care, violence, survival, and the fragile relationships between species.