“These kids often ask if insects bite or sting them,” Zhang said. “They’ve never really taken the time to look at insects. If I can bring one right up to their face and show them the blues of its body or how its legs move, it helps them see things in a new light.”
She has witnessed the impact firsthand. A teacher once shared that a typically restless boy sat still and focused for the first time in her class, captivated by the insects. “He couldn’t stop asking, ‘What’s next?’” She added: “Sometimes, kids say things like, ‘I learned that things that seem ugly at first can actually be really pretty when you look closely.’”
AN UPHILL BATTLE
Zhang considers herself part of a small but dedicated community of “insect fanatics” in Singapore, from academics to insect enthusiasts and macro photographers who head out every night in search of the next bug. In forested areas, she can’t resist shining her torchlight into hidden areas, drawn to the thrill of discovery – and as she puts it, “you see manure and can’t help but dig into it.”
As an artist, she’s open to new challenges, whether it’s building a massive insect sculpture or writing a musical about insects. “I still feel like a kid,” she added, “always curious, always asking questions, always wanting to learn more.”
