\n<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE \u2013 Perched on foliage, a darkling beetle can easily go unnoticed. <\/p>\n
At a glance, the insect can appear to be the unassuming shades of black and brown to the naked eye.<\/p>\n
But soon, the little critter \u2013 often mere millimetres long \u2013 will command a large presence in the room, with its kaleidoscope of colours on display, towering over viewers at about 2m tall.<\/p>\n
Between Jan 17 and April 19, the public can walk among 37 giant, magnified portraits of insects at the ArtScience Museum\u2019s upcoming exhibition, Marina Bay Sands said in a statement on Dec 18.<\/p>\n
Titled Insects: Microsculptures Magnified, the display allows visitors to examine colours, textures and anatomical structures that often remain invisible, even up close.<\/p>\n
It was created in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History and supported by scientific research from local institutions, including Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the National University of Singapore and A*STAR, Marina Bay Sands said.<\/p>\n
The subjects of the photographs are specimens from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History\u2019s collection, captured through the lens of award-winning photographer Levon Biss. Some examples of the photographed specimens include the jewel longhorn beetle, orchid cuckoo bee and Amazonian purple warrior scarab.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach photograph is created from over 8,000 individual images using a bespoke photo rig and microscope lenses,\u201d Mr Biss said.<\/p>\n
The portraits are digitally printed in Singapore and will be displayed in 2D form on canvas, a Marina Bay Sands spokesperson said.<\/p>\n