Interviewed by Mia Beach
Funny Times: What inspired Insectopolis? Have you always been drawn to insects?
Peter Kuper: My inspiration began at the age four when I saw the 17-year cicadas emerging by the millions. Many people are horrified by this kind of “invasion” of insects– I was thrilled. That sense of wonder about the natural world has never left me.
Comic books and cartooning overtook my desire to pursue a career in entomology, but with Insectopolis I have found the perfect Venn diagram that lets me explore both passions.
FT: Do you have a favorite insect? Your book shows a lot of love for the dung beetle!
PK: Yeah, among the coleoptera, dung beetles are my favorite. Historically they have been considered a God (Khepri) who caused the sun to rise and set, they are the strongest animals for their size (they can pull the equivalent of three full cement trucks) they can navigate by the Milky Way.
Then there’s the poop pushing part, which throws hilarity into their story.
But when it comes to my favorite Beatle, I’d have to say Ringo.
FT: Why do you think a book about these themes is pertinent now?
PK: Without insects we wouldn’t have coffee, chocolate or virtually any fruit or vegetables.
To quote E.O.Wilson :
“If all mankind were to disappear, the world
would regenerate back to the rich state of
equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago.
If insects were to vanish,
the environment would collapse into chaos.”
Right now insects are disappearing at an alarming rate and I’m hoping a book like Insectopolis will help readers appreciate the importance of insects in our daily lives and maybe want to do more than stomp on them and spray them with pesticides.
FT: How has your experience with the insect world changed over the years?
PK: I used to collect insects, now I read about them, take pictures or draw them and enjoy just staring at them as they climb the trees and flutter around.
In general I am hyper-conscious of insects – they uplift me as proof of life.
I’m also very conscious there are fewer of them around than there were when I was when I was growing up.
FT: If you could be anywhere/any time right now, where would you choose to be?
PK: Oh, being on planet earth right now is just fine with me, the arthropods are mind-blowingly amazing,and I am insanely fortunate to get to draw them and comics everyday as my living.
The problem is the humanoids that are mindlessly destroying the Eden we have, or could have. Greed is something I wish could be abolished.
Peter Kuper’s new books, Insectoplis and Coloring Insectopolis are available now!
Insectopolis art courtesy of W.W. Norton.
