Cryptococcus by Lee Davis
We humans have a peculiar fascination with zombies. Such movies like Night of the Living Dead, Zombieland, and Evil Dead permeate our pop culture, even though “zombieism” in humans is not a reality. However, it is well documented that true “zombieism” is a common occurrence in the insect world. “Cryptococcus” is a series of paintings that explores that subject. Whether controlling an ant’s brain through a cocktail of chemicals like the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or through enslaving cockroaches with venom like the wasp Ampulex dementor, the evolution to parasitically mind-controlling victims is bizarrely unique.
Meaning "hidden sphere" in Greek, “Cryptococcus” refers to a genus of fungus that can be infectious to humans. The title of this series bridges the gap between the scourges of the insect world and our world. While not inducing “zombieism” in humans, the fungus Cryptococcus gattii can nevertheless be fatal to us. Fortunately C. gattii cases are rare, but have been documented in the U. S. Pacific Northwest.
We humans have a peculiar fascination with zombies. Such movies like Night of the Living Dead, Zombieland, and Evil Dead permeate our pop culture, even though “zombieism” in humans is not a reality. However, it is well documented that true “zombieism” is a common occurrence in the insect world. “Cryptococcus” is a series of paintings that explores that subject. Whether controlling an ant’s brain through a cocktail of chemicals like the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, or through enslaving cockroaches with venom like the wasp Ampulex dementor, the evolution to parasitically mind-controlling victims is bizarrely unique.
Meaning "hidden sphere" in Greek, “Cryptococcus” refers to a genus of fungus that can be infectious to humans. The title of this series bridges the gap between the scourges of the insect world and our world. While not inducing “zombieism” in humans, the fungus Cryptococcus gattii can nevertheless be fatal to us. Fortunately C. gattii cases are rare, but have been documented in the U. S. Pacific Northwest.