In Insecta, Jacob Wilde blurs the line between humans and insects in ways that are both unexpected and profoundly moving. A vindictive wasp, a horny maggot, a fly waiting for death on the surface of a koi pond: in Wilde’s hands, insects’ experiences are mirrors of our own behaviours and emotions. Insecta challenges us to relate to insects in ways we’ve never imagined, to learn empathy and connection from the smallest of creatures. “When we lash out at others, we are aiming at the least likeable stems of ourselves,” explains a grandfather locust. Whether read aloud or savoured alone, this collection will make you chuckle while leaving you pondering what it means to be a bug and—and a human.
