Phnom Penh: The exhibition “Insects: The Art of Detail” reveals a biodiversity that is both fascinating and fragile through a series of photographs taken by the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit of the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, in collaboration with the France Embassy in Cambodia.
With innovative photographic techniques developed by French inventor Nathanaël Maury, researchers can capture subjects as small as mosquito eggs in ultra-high resolution. These images reveal extraordinary details, essential for identifying species and understanding their role in ecosystems. At the crossroads of art and science, they also open up new perspectives for entomology and insect science.
Dr Sébastien Boyer, head of the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit at the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia, emphasizes: “This exhibition is an opportunity to highlight not only the invisible beauty of insects but also the critical research being conducted by the IPC to monitor and prevent vector-borne diseases. It is a reminder of the importance of protecting biodiversity, which has a direct impact on human health. »
Insects account for 85% of all known animal species, but millions remain unidentified, especially in regions such as Cambodia and Laos, where biodiversity is still largely unknown. Threatened by pollution, climate change and the overexploitation of natural resources, this hidden heritage is at risk of disappearing before it is even discovered. The Institut Pasteur in Cambodia plays a key role in entomological research in Southeast Asia. Its work ranges from field surveys in rural provinces to the development of innovative tools for disease vector control, making this exhibition a showcase for the Institute’s sustainable efforts in science, health and environmental protection.
The exhibition will be inaugurated on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia, in the presence of Nathanaël Maury (photographer and inventor of the techniques used) and Dr Sébastien Boyer, head of the Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit of the Institut Pasteur of Cambodia. It will be preceded, at 5:30 p.m., by a conference entitled “The Art of Scientific Imaging”, led by Nathanaël Maury. The public will also be able to take part in guided tours of the exhibition on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., accompanied by Nathanaël Maury and Dr Sébastien Boyer.
Photo by: supplied
