THE MUMS
Jipil Jung (South Korea)
Mosquitoes are carriers for some of our most significant diseases including, Malaria, Zika and Dengue fever. Would the world be a better place without these insects? Or are they ecologically vital?
The Mums is a series of large scale photographic images that focus the lens on female mosquitoes which fed on the artist’s own blood. Both male and female mosquitoes generally feed on nectar and plants, and it is only the females that injest blood. During egg development, the females must consume a ‘blood meal’, an act which is fraught with danger. If they get caught in the middle of feeding, they will die. The expectant mothers, therefore, dare to sacrifice their own lives for their precious children.
Jung expresses guilt in killing the mosquitoes and questions, if they were to suck our blood without their bite causing an irritation, would we be more accepting of being bitten? And what if the mosquito didn’t carry disease but, instead, evolved to inject something ‘good’ into our blood?
Jipil Jung is a Seoul-based photographer who shares the meanings and values that he finds in his everyday life. He has a Bachelor of Fine Art from Chung-ang University and a Masters of Fine Art from the Korea National University of Arts in Seoul.