A new exhibition at the French Institute of Cambodia promises to reveal a biodiversity that is both fascinating and fragile.
Insects: The Art of Detail features a series of photographs taken by the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit of the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, in collaboration with the French embassy in Cambodia.It will premier on September 12.
Researchers have captured subjects as small as mosquito eggs in ultra-high resolution, thanks to innovative photographic techniques developed by French inventor Nathanaël Maury.
The images reveal extraordinary details, essential for identifying species and understanding their role in ecosystems. At the crossroads of art and science, they also open up new perspectives for entomology and insect science, according to a press release.
“This exhibition is an opportunity to highlight not only the invisible beauty of insects, but also the critical research being conducted by the IPC to monitor and prevent vector-borne diseases. It is a reminder of the importance of protecting biodiversity, which has a direct impact on human health,” said Dr. Sébastien Boyer, head of the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit at the Institut Pasteur.
Although insects account for 85 per cent of all known animal species, millions remain unidentified, especially in regions such as Cambodia and Laos, where biodiversity is still largely unknown. Threatened by pollution, climate change and the overexploitation of natural resources, this hidden heritage is at risk of disappearing before it is even discovered, noted the release.
The exhibition will be inaugurated in the presence of Maury, the and inventor of the techniques used, and Dr. Boyer.
The public will be able to take part in guided tours of the exhibition on Saturday, September 13, from 9am to 11am, accompanied by Maury and Dr. Boyer.
