People have always been intrigued by bees. Even Greek and Roman philosophers wrote about them. Bees and their products also feature in the works of contemporary artists such as Joseph Beuys, Hede Bühl, Felix Droese, Michael Buthe, Timm Ulrichs, etc. This book focuses on their creations. The artworks serve as the basis for reflections on topics that go beyond art. Chapters on art are combined with contributions on the cultural and natural history of bees since antiquity, e.g., on the “begonia,” the “King Bee,” the defense strategies of bees—and worldwide bee mortality.

Bees don’t need human beings, but we depend on bees both to preserve the environment and to secure the world’s food supply. Works of art such as Honigpumpe am Arbeitsplatz (1977) by Joseph Beuys or Wabenköpfe (2015–24) by Hede Bühl can inspire us to explore the different, strange ways in which bees communicate and their social organization. The resulting fascination may help to encourage people to pay close attention to the warnings about climate change and species extinction.