” These teenagers often ask if flies bite or sting them”, Zhang said. ” They’ve never actually taken the time to look at flies. If I can send one straight up to their experience and show them the music of its body or how its arms move, it helps them see items in a fresh light”.
She has witnessed the influence first. A teacher previously shared that a commonly anxious boy sat also and focused for the first time in her course, captivated by the flies. ” He don’t stop asking,’ What’s future?'” She added:” Sometimes, boys say things like,’ I learned that items that seem unpleasant at first may actually be truly pretty when you look carefully.'”
AN UPHILL BATTLE
Zhang considers herself portion of a small but dedicated group of “insect fans” in Singapore, from scientists to mosquito enthusiasts and micro photographers who head out every day in search of the following 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”.