Microsculpture – The Insect Portraits of Levon Biss

Opening on Saturday 29 June, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is hosting ‘Microsculpture’ an exhibition of giant insect portraits exposed in microscopic detail.

Famed photographer, Levon Biss partnered with the Oxford University Museum of Natural History for the project. Each portrait of an insect is made up of more than 8000 images, all of which focus on a different body area. After the entirety of the insect had been captured the images are “stacked” to produce the final portrait. With support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, RBGE is the first British host of the exhibition in three years.

The portraits are remarkable with each insect shown in such detail that it is clear to see how the colour gradient changes and each individual hair on the insect is on view. The exhibition is not just made up of the portraits however, as beside each image there is information about the species, including its evolution and habitat, as well as a true size outline of the insect presented.

As insect numbers continue to drop the importance of such an exhibition cannot be overstated. By allowing people to see the true beauty and complexity of these creatures the aim is to help increase interest in their preservation.

ENDS
For further information, interviews or images, please contact Clare Piggot on 0131 248 2925 or Shauna Hay on 0131 248 2900.

EDITOR’S NOTES
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a leading international research organisation delivering knowledge, education and plant conservation action in more than 50 countries around the world. In Scotland its four Gardens at Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan attract nearly a million visitors each year. It operates as a Non Departmental Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Scottish Government. It is also a registered charity, managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Ministers. Its mission is “To explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”.