37 monumental, high-magnification portraits of insects from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History’s collection throw the spotlight on microscopic forms with extraordinary detail and clarity at the ArtScience Museum’s first exhibition on insects, Insects: Microsculptures Magnified.
Insects: Microsculptures Magnified
From 17 January 2026, the Insects: Microsculptures Magnified exhibition will illuminate the larger-than-life realm of insects, revealing the beauty and intricacy of their forms far beyond what the naked eye can perceive.
At the heart of the exhibition are pictures of insects, captured in great details by award-winning British photographer Levon Biss. The exhibition is created in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History.
It also features a component that was put together with the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum to highlight cutting-edge scientific research from Singapore, revealing how discoveries made here, from urban insect ecology to bio-inspired materials science, are shaping our understanding of biodiversity.
A Close Up Look at an Insect’s Microsculpture
The photographs magnifying insect life to a monumental scale. Looking at them reveals the intricacy of natural systems. The photographs capture what entomologists refer to as an insect’s “microsculpture”—from the iridescent armour, velvet-like textures and saw-toothed mandibles, to finely pigmented scales.
The level of detail in each photograph is possible because it is created from over 8,000 individual images using a bespoke photo rig and microscope lenses.
Each photograph reveals colours, textures and anatomical structures that often remain invisible.
Work of Local Institutions Showcased
First presented at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in 2016, ArtScience Museum has expanded upon the original exhibition to depict the rich diversity of insect life in Singapore.
The Singapore edition of the exhibition incorporates specimens from local institutions, including Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s Zoological Reference Collection, Nanyang Technology University Asian School of the Environment’s Tropical Ecology and Entomology Lab and Blackcrow Taxidermy & Art.
One of the highlights are the 16 drawers of insect specimens from the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum on display. These range from moths to beetles and more.
They reveal the meticulous processes of preparation, preservation and classification that enable scientists to study and safeguard biodiversity.
Visitors can also learn more about how scientists are working in the nation’s forests and laboratories are making significant discoveries that advance fields from ecology and conservation to biomimetic engineering.
Insects: Microsculptures Magnified at ArtScience Museum
The Insects: Microsculptures Magnified exhibition illuminates the larger-than-life realm of insects, revealing the beauty and intricacy of their forms far beyond what the naked eye can perceive.
Insects: Microsculptures Magnified is now from 17 January 2026 to 19 April 2026.
Tickets to Insects: Microsculptures Magnified are for purchase at all Marina Bay Sands box offices and online.
