Beetles and Bugs Versus Oscar Fashion

Right: Emma Stone (in Louis Vuitton) arrives at the Academy Awards February 24, 2019 (detail of photo by Marl Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) and left: Apriona swainsoni, female by Ben Sale

Sometimes I watch the Oscars, but mainly for the pretty clothes. I went to bed after Spike Lee won for his screenplay, probably correct in my suspicion the show had peaked (with a joyous moment overdue by a few decades). I did enjoy the clothes, and in particular that several men stepped it up with colour, and capes and one truly spectacular skirt. Today this is my excuse to contrast the astonishing biodiversity of beetles with the beautiful textiles and couture on display. See the previous such posts: I really enjoyed bringing you the best in nudibranch Oscar fashion and bee biodiversity versus Oscar fashion before. The variation in bugs and beetles is staggering, and I hope you'll see they show great beauty, even if you're inclined to think of them as creepy crawlies.

Left: Lisa Bonet and Jason Momoa (detail of photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) and right: Cerambycidae from Senegal, male and female, shot by Insecte member ocis

Left: Helen Mirren arrives at the Academy Awards February 24, 2019 (Photograph: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) and right: Omophoita via National Geographic

Left: Glenn Close at the 2019 Oscars on February 24, 2019 in Caroline Herrera and right: Golden Tortoise Beetle (via Wikipedia)

Left: Chris Evans, February 24, 2019 at the Academy Awards (Getty Images) and
right: the six-spotted tiger beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)
(courtesy Matt Bright/flickr CC)

Left: Michelle Yeoh wearing Ellie Saab at the February 24, 2019 Academy Awards (By Steve Granitz/WireImage) and left: Corythuca ciliata, the sycamore lace bug (via here)

Insect as Canvas, Real and Imaginary

Yesterday I encountered the work of two different artists using insects as a medium onto which they are building their art.

Japanese artist Akihiro Higuchi (also here) has created works like traditional Japanese lacquerware on beetles and painted on moths in patterns reminiscent of traditional Japanese-style Nihonga painting, Japanese washi papers as well as more kitschy vintage cartoon illustrations.

Akihiro Higuchi,

"MITATE - urushi" Hideyoshi Toyotomi - Hanbei Takenaka, 2015

Stag beetle specimen, Japanese lacquer, gold dust, silver dust, mixed media
25 x 20 x 6 cm

Akihiro Higuchi,

"MITATE - urushi" Mitsuari Ishida - Sakon Shima, 2015

Stag beetle specimen, Japanese lacquer, gold dust, silver dust, mixed media
25 x 20 x 6 cm

Akihiro Higuchi, Collection, 2007

Watercolour on moth

7 9/10 × 9 4/5 in

20 × 25 cm

Meanwhile, UK illustrator Richard Wilkinson has a series of digital illustrations, so realistic in flavour they (at least at first glance) appear to be painted on insects. They are in fact imaginary insects which resemble pop icons. His delightful collection "Arthropoda Iconicus: Invertebrates From A Far Away Galaxy" allude to Star Wars of course. He expects the book to be released this fall.

Richard Wilkinson, 'Dokk volgatus'

Richard Wilkinson, 'Regio Tutanamentum'

Richard Wilkinson, 'Roboduobus Duoduobus'

I love the intersection of art, entomology, culture and the imagination and how each of these artists are bringing their own cultural touchstones to the medium of insect decoration.

Compare this with where entomology meets fashion.