Junk or Treasure: The Beetle Boy

The boy who collects insects and his journey to spread the beauty of nature to the community

Nguyen Huynh Anh Kiet – a young insect collector, started learning about insect collecting in 2015. Currently, his collection has reached 200 specimens, mainly consisting of rhinoceros beetles and other beetles. Accompanying RICE in the first "Junk or Treasure" event, Kiet showed everyone his love, perseverance, and dedication to his passion for insect collecting.

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Have you noticed any changes in yourself after the episode “Junk or Treasure: The Endemic Beetle” aired?

“Oh, my life has changed a lot. After the episode aired and was shared by the Co Dong Facebook page, many media outlets reached out to me for interviews. I've connected with many like-minded friends who want to learn about and get into this hobby. I also feel less shy about introducing our community to everyone, which has brought in more supporters for our upcoming projects. At my go-to coffee shop, where I've always sat to work on my insect specimens, no one really cared about what I was doing before the episode aired. Now, people come over to ask for photos and even ask questions to learn more about my collection. On the street, sometimes people recognize and greet me. That’s a great sign! It makes me feel 'less nerdy' haha!”

Do you have any plans for your next steps?

“I have been thinking about an exhibition project for a long time but never had the opportunity. Thanks to the digital boom after the episode, I had the chance to connect with various partners and gain more knowledge to develop my next project. My team and I will be organizing an exhibition on beetles with environmental protection messages at Homeland Artist this November!”

Where did Kiet get the inspiration for this exhibition project?

“The more I study, collect, and learn about this world, the more I realize the importance of every single species in the ecosystem. It's not just large animals like elephants or rhinos that need protection; insects and tiny creatures also need care. Through this project, I want to introduce beetle collecting, share knowledge, and raise awareness about our surrounding environment. The more people engage in and learn about breeding and raising insects, the better biodiversity is conserved. My team and I collect from nature, but we also give back to nature to help it thrive.”

Watch "The Endemic Beetle" | JUNK OR TREASURE

Kế hoạch tương lai của bạn là gì?

“Of course, I will organize more exhibitions, combined with auctions to raise funds for environmental organizations. Initially, I wanted to raise money for forest protection organizations, but after researching, I found that marine conservation funds (such as breeding and conservation funds) in Vietnam are still quite lacking, so I am considering contributing more to them. Ultimately, what I want to do is raise everyone's awareness about protecting the natural environment, starting with the smallest things. I will continue to cultivate more knowledge and learn more to develop this hobby and bring it closer to the public.”

Bugdy – an event by Úb Stairs

Bugdy is a series of programs by Homeland Artist and Hat Ub to raise public awareness about the environment, especially insects that are being affected by deforestation.

Thời gian: 15 tháng 11, 2022 – 18 tháng 11, 2022
Địa điểm: Úb Stairs/ Hat Ub: 195/21 Nguyen Van Thuong, Binh Thanh, HCMC
Chương trình bao gồm ba hoạt động:

• Specimen exhibition and introduction to insects and their lives.
• Songwriting activities with the themes: "Ladybug", "Cut Down Trees to Build a House", and "Don't Think You're Smart"
• Bugdy Music Night on November 15 with the participation of Nhim, Neam, Minh Vau, Tri Buh, and many other artists