The late 1990s led to an increasing popularity in steampunk. The pseudo-Victorian mechanical genre has leaked its way into literature, art and now into insects. American sculptor Mike Libby has a studio named Insect Lab and in it he creates a plethora of robots made from dried insects.
The bugs he uses for his steampunk insects are exotic, coming from places like Africa, China, New Guinea and Brazil. His mechanical components are just as rare because they are a collection of parts from antique pocket watches and wristwatches.
These steampunked creations are not for those who feared bedbugs at night as a child.
Steampunked Insects
Mike Libby Mixes Bugs & Machines in His Insect Lab (UPDATE)
Trend Themes
1. Steampunk Art - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the fusion of mechanical and organic elements in various art forms.
2. Bioengineering - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Investigate the potential applications of utilizing insects as a medium for creating hybrid robotic structures.
3. Antique Collectibles - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Consider the repurposing of antique pocket watches and wristwatches into unique mechanical creations.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the incorporation of steampunk aesthetics and themes into traditional and digital artworks.
2. Entomology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Study the potential intersection between insect biology and robotics to develop new applications in fields like agriculture and medicine.
3. Antiques and Collectibles - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the market potential of repurposing antique timepiece components for unique mechanical creations.