When conducting field research on Lepidoptera insects, the sweep is one of the most commonly used tools. To capture fast-flying insects, the catcher needs to observe the insect’s flight trajectory and predict its direction. Once the insect is caught in the net, the catcher must carefully extract the “prey” from the net bag, in a process akin to a birthing ritual. The catcher repeats this process until it becomes muscle memory. Through this imitation and repetition, the catcher gains an embodied experience that is entangled with the insects. This set of works attempts to use the sweep as a medium for exploring the intersubjectivity of the catcher and the insects.
Related Exhibitions: