According to Webster’s, steampunk is defined as “a genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.” According to Insect Lab’s Mike Libby, steampunk has moved from the page to the insect—yes, insect. Using the inner workings and cogs from antique watches, as well as random components from old typewriters and sewing machines, Libby reimagines real bugs as works of steampunk art. For the environmental worriers out there, rest assured that Libby, a 1999 graduate of the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, sources his insects from reputable sources who supply non-endangered critters from Texas, Brazil, New Guinea, Africa, and China. Every steampunk insect is unlike its predecessors and range in price from $600 to $2500.
[quote] One day I found a dead intact beetle. I then located an old wristwatch, thinking of how the beetle also operated and looked like a little mechanical device and so decided to combine the two. After some time dissecting the beetle and outfitting it with watch parts and gears, I had a nice little sculpture.” [/quote]
