Art, gears, insects, mike libby, tachyon press, the new weird

The Insect Brain of a New Analytical Computer

Mike Libby uses the carapaces of real insects to create tiny, mechanical works of art. They look like they could be part of a new insect-driven A.I. Not only does Libby's work adorn a new anthology of speculative writing from Tachyon Press called The New Weird, but he has upcoming shows you can check out in Boston and Philly. A few more bugs (and one arachnid) lurk below.

These remind me of the clockwork insects in Guillermo Del Toro's movie Cronos. Libby works in a studio he calls "Insect Lab," and he describes it thusly:

Insect Lab is an artist studio that customizes real insects with antique watch parts and electronic components. Offering specimens that come in many shapes, sizes and colors; each insect is individually adorned, each is one of a kind and unique.

Insect Lab [Artist's Site]

10:20 AM on Mon Feb 11 2008
By Annalee Newitz
13,349 views
10 comments

Comments

Enferris at 10:40 AM on 02/11/08
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That's two arachnids, there. The spider and the scorpion. They both have over six limbs, the spider has eight legs and two pedipalps, and the scorpion has eight legs and two pincers (specialized pedipalps). I don't like to be nitpicky; but, given my father's hobbies, that was the recurring theme of my childhood.
N__B at 10:59 AM on 02/11/08
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I want a Deathwatch Beetle watch.
Yatta! at 11:05 AM on 02/11/08
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This is some seriously excellent stuff - I just got my copy of The New Weird and was wondering about the art on the cover. Great work, guys! I smell a killer future tattoo.
PVIII at 11:21 AM on 02/11/08
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Very cool, but would probably freak out guests (unless that's what you were looking for).
Counterglow at 11:45 AM on 02/11/08
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Sorry, sticking watch parts on bug carcasses just doesn't do it for me. Now if it was grandfather clock parts and granfather...
Annalee Newitz at 01:23 PM on 02/11/08
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Connectedness Index: 344

@PVIII: Depends on the guests!
strider_mt2k at 04:10 AM on 02/12/08
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Connectedness Index: 717

@Counterglow: go on...
thunder7 at 07:15 AM on 02/12/08
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Behold the the nano
taxbaby at 10:04 AM on 02/12/08
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I'd be more excited about these if the coils and cogs were actually arranged so that they could do things. In most of the pieces above, it looks like they're just put on for show.
(Come on, steampunk kids. Aren't those cogs more useful left in your watch?)
ThatGuyOverThere at 07:49 AM on 02/13/08
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Watch out, Lyra, they're coming for you.