The boy who collects bugs and his journey to spread the beauty of nature to the community
Nguyen Huynh Anh Kiet – a young insect collector, started learning about bug collection in 2015. Currently, his collection has reached 200 specimens, mainly including horn beetles and beetles. Accompanying RICE in the first Junk or Treasure event, Kiet showed everyone his love and perseverance, persistence with his passion in bug collecting.
—
Have you seen any changes in himself after the episode “Junk or Treasure: The Endemic Beetle” aired?
“Oh, my life changed a lot. After the episode aired and was shared by Co Dong Facebook page, many media outlets came to me for an interview. I connected with many friends who have the same passion, want to learn and participate in this subject. I also feel less shy when introducing my community to everyone, then more friends come to support our upcoming projects. At my go-to coffee shop, I often sit there to work on my bug samples from the past until now. Before the episode aired, no one really cared about what I was doing, now people come to ask for photos and even ask questions to understand more about my collection. On the street, sometimes people recognize me and say hi to me. That’s a good sign! It makes me feel “less nerd” haha!”
Do you have any next step plans?
I have always thought of an exhibition project for a long time but never had the opportunity. Thanks to the digital boom after the episode, I had the opportunity to connect with many parties and gain more knowledge to develop for the next project. Me and his team will organize an exhibition project about beetles with environmental protection messages at Homeland Artist this November!
Where did Kiet get the inspiration for the exhibition project?
The more I study, collect and learn about this world, the more I realize the importance of each species in the ecological environment. Not only big animals like elephants or rhinos need to be protected, bugs and small creatures also need to be taken care of. Through this project, I want to introduce beetle collecting, disseminate knowledge and raise people’s awareness about the surrounding biological environment. The more people play and learn about the breeding and reproduction of bugs; biodiversity is conserved. Me and my team collect from nature but we also give back to nature for development.
Watch the Endemic Beetle| JUNK OR TREASURE
What are your future plans?
Of course I will organize more exhibitions, combined with auctions to raise funds for environmental protection organizations. Initially, I wanted to raise money for The Forest Protection organizations, but after researching, I found that the fund for The Sea Protection (the Breeding and Conservation Fund) in Vietnam is still quite lacking, so I am considering contributing more to it. Ultimately, what Kiet wants to do is raise awareness about protecting the natural environment to everyone, starting with the smallest things. Kiet will continue to cultivate more knowledge, learn more to develop and bring this subject closer to more people.
Bugdy – an event of Úb Stairs
Bugdy is a series of programs from Homeland Artist and Hạt Úb to raise public awareness about the environment, especially the insects that are being affected by the gradual disappearance of forests.
Time: November 15, 2022 – November 18, 2022
Location: Úb Stairs/ Hạt Úb: 195/21 Nguyen Van Thuong, Binh Thanh, HCMC
The program includes three activities:
- Exhibits specimens and introduces bugs and their lives.
- Music composition activities with the theme: Ladybug, Cut down trees to build a house and Don’t think you’re smart
- Bugdy Music Night 11/15 with the participation of Nhim, Neam, Minh Vau, Tri Buh and many other artists
