Zombie-ant fungus, commonly known as Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, infects ants by attaching spores to their exoskeletons, which then penetrate and gradually take over their behavior. As the infection progresses, the ants are compelled to leave their nests for a more humid microclimate conducive to fungal growth, where they ultimately await death.
Instead of directly controlling the ant's brain, the fungus manipulates the mind by interfering with the ant's nervous system and directly controlling its muscles with bioactive compounds. This infection is both cruel and painful, akin to running a marathon.
Zombie ants frequently appear in my nightmares, wandering from abandoned cities to humid forests. In reality, I feel like one of these infected ants, with a repressed life and emotions turning me into a dull machine.
This project returns to my simplest and most direct form of expression: illustration. From January 1st, 2022, to December 31st, 2022, the collection consists of 365 visual diaries featuring a character with the O. unilateralis fruiting body's tentacles, wandering through a bizarre world. It records both endless nightmares and a nightmarish daily life.
2023, Unbound Exhibition, Xiamen, China. Three Shadows Photography Art Centre.
Published at Gosh! Comics London, 2024.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
