Realm of Insects 25. March 2025

mischer’traxler studio's "Insektenreich" (Realm of Insects) at the Children's Biennale »PLANET UTOPIA«

For the Children's Biennale 2024/25 mischer'traxler studio has co-creatively further developed a 2015 installation of theirs in cooperation with a children's advisory board.
“Curiosity Cloud” turned into “Insektenreich”, forming a reactive cloud of large, light-bulb-like glass bodies, with various insects inside.
When you approach the installation, the glass bulbs begin to glow and the insects start dancing. 

Photo of the ”Insektenreich” installation. Glass bulbs with insect models inside hang from the ceiling. A child leans underneath and laughs.

mischer'traxler studio's "Insektenreich" at the Children's Biennale 2024/25 PLANET UTOPIA at the Japanisches Palais in Dresden

mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Oliver Killig

A film about the installation "Insektenreich" (Realm of Insects) by mischer'traxler studio at the Children's Biennale at the Japanisches Palais 2024/25

mischer'traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Film: Patrick Schwarz

Insects of the Future

True to the principle of the Children's Biennale »PLANET UTOPIA« however, there are insects from possible futures inside the glass bulbs at the Japanisches Palais. These were developed cooperatively during a workshop with mischer'traxler studio, a biologist from the Senckenberg Nature History Collections Dresden and students from the 147th primary school. Together they imagined an array of animals that are adapted to extreme climate conditions with special abilities, that you might encounter in the future. 

Drawings, sketches and a model of a fictional wasp-like insect.

Prototype of the "fart bubble hornet", developed in the workshop with mischer'traxler studio.

mischer' traxler studio

We have collected them below:

  • A small model of a black-bodied insect with a pair of transparent wings and a pair of red elytra with six black spots each.

    Lieselotte spotted the "twelve dot lady bug" in her garden, which feeds on cherries and poppies. When it has offspring, it can defend against its foes (foxes and wolves) by dropping its dots filled with itching powder.

    mischer' traxler studio, Lieselotte, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Two butterfly models with antennae and violet bodies. On the back wings are tails. One has red wings with purple bubbles, the other has wings, transitioning from pink in the center to dark violet on the edges, dotted with bubbles.

    The "bubble butterfly" is based on a discovery by Livia and feeds on purple flowers. It adapts to extreme wet conditions by learning to walk on water, but it only has very short legs. It produces eggs on the topside of its wings in small bubbles, which rise up like soap bubbles and get caught in leaves and trees.

    mischer' traxler studio, Livia, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Model of an insect with a dark blue body. The antennae are curled. The wings are glittery blue at the edges and towards the center, transitioning into transparency. Each wing is adorned with a tooth-shaped blue dot. The back wings have a droplet-shaped tail.

    Little is known about the "blue water drop" butterfly. Thanks to its discoverer Sophia however, we know it is outstandingly well adapted to extreme wet conditions.

    mischer' traxler studio, Sophia, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Model of a small insect with a brown, felt-like body and a pair of droplet-shaped wings. The wings are semi-transparent and blue-green with a rough texture.

    In the water holes of the jungle you will find these elegant butterflies, named "blue butterfly" by their discoverer Ella. But you have to approach them with care, since the purple tips of their wings are venomous. For better visibility in the dark and for mating, their wings glow.

    mischer' traxler studio, Ella, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Small butterfly model with a blue, felty body. There is a yellow dot on the thorax and a red flame pattern radiating from the bottom to the top of the abdomen. The wings are white with red veins. The forewings have blue, glittering lines on the upper edge. The hind wings have a glittering red-orange flame pattern.

    The stinging-nettle-eating "fire butterfly" was discovered by Ella. It lives in the forest and metabolizes nettle poison in an exothermic reaction, so its wings can become extremely hot when in danger.

    mischer' traxler studio, Ella, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Small insect model with a yellow, felt-like body with brown stripes and antennae. It has two pairs of transparent wings with fine gold veins.

    The "fluegler hornet" (also "fart bubble hornet") lives in the city, where it was discovered by Paulo. It can defend itself against the extreme exhaust gas pollution by creating a bubble from its abdomen. The scent of this bubble is more intense than the fumes, shielding the insect against the city air.

    mischer' traxler studio, Paulo, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: Jacob Franke

  • Insect model with a solid, black felt body. Large eyes and blue and red shapes are felted in. It has black antennae and a pair of oval wings that glitter with red, blue and green stripes.

    The "wavy plankling" has a sophisticated survival strategy against the extreme cold. It flies onto mountains, where it warms itself in the sun and additionally resists the cold using kinetic energy. It feeds exclusively on whale sharks, which it lures onto land, where they perish to be consumed by swarms of planklings.

    mischer' traxler studio, Paul, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Model of a butterfly with a black, felted body. It has green antennae and the body appears to have a green sheen. The lower pair of wings glitters blue with dark blue veins. The upper pair of wings is almost transparent with a rough texture.

    The "glittery four winger" was discovered by Livia and Sophia and is a so-called "super helper". It feeds on seeds, which it barely digests however. It mainly eats them to excrete them again. In this way it selflessly makes an important contribution to the conservation of all seed-bearing living organisms.

    mischer' traxler studio, Livia & Sophia, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Small insect model with a black, felted body and black antennae. One pair of wings is yellow with a blue wavy line. Above this is a pair of red elytra with black dots.

    In very dry and hot areas lives the "golden bird". It uses its venomous feelers to protect itself from enemies, which they only notice when it is already too late, as its discoverer Benaja observed. Inside its tummy it has water canisters and it also filters hot air turning it into cold air. For camouflage it can change colours from green to red.

    mischer' traxler studio, Benaja, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Insect model with a felty, brown-green body with black spots and a black stinger on the abdomen. It has black antennae, six long legs and a pair of long, thin wings that taper to a point.

    The "horned locust" was discovered by Kurt and lives in flower meadows. It has horny stingers on its head and tail and can jump very high. Since that can be a bit hazardous, it has horny knees, just in case it takes a bad fall.

    mischer' traxler studio, Kurt, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • An insect model with a black, felted body. There are also blue areas on the body. The black, jagged mouthparts are larger than the pair of wings, which are yellow on the inside and blue on the outside.

    In the jungle lives this little insect called "komo intanus". As its discoverer Ivanka found out, it is not only very well adapted to extremely hot, but also very dry environments. It has venomous colours and venomous tools, which it needs to protect itself when drying its wings after a bath, because when it gets hot, it dives into the water and collects a water reserve in a bubble on its neck.

    mischer' traxler studio, Ivanka, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • A model of an insect with an orange, felted body. On the abdomen is a pair of black dots that appear to be false eyes. The pair of wings is striped blue, green, yellow and red from the inside out and covered with veins forming square patterns. The black antennae are longer than the body and hang downwards.

    As is often the case in the animal kingdom, the colours of the "long antenna bug" serve as deterrence. As its discoverer Paul knows, it also scares off foes by spitting brackish water from its abdomen.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • An insect model with a blue, yellow and black striped body. It has two antennae and six long legs. The forewings are semi-transparent and yellow. There are blue areas with white dots on the outer edges. The hind wings are similar, but a paler shade of yellow. Very fine veins span webs over all four wings.

    The "long footed dragonfly" was discovered by Marlene and is very well prepared for a flooded future, since it can defend against enemies (such as pond skaters) by pinching off water lily parts with their legs to throw at them.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Two butterfly models with brown-grey felt bodies and black antennae. One insect has wings with colourful stripes from top to bottom, the other has wings with abstract, jagged colourful patterns and four ‘eyes’, like on peacock feathers.

    In the rain forest live these two species of butterfly, called "uncle Leo" and "aunt Rosi". They were discovered by Rachel in the depths of the rain forest and can camouflage as blossoms, which is important, since they are sought after by humans, mice and birds alike.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • An insect model with two pairs of neon pink, pointed wings. The body is pink and felt-like. It has curled antennae and a pair of antenna-like, long extremities on the abdomen, similar to cerci.

    In tropical forests lives the "pink blossom butterfly". As its discoverer Sophie found out, it lives fast, but comfortably. Like its predator, the chameleon, it can camouflage outstandingly well, not by changing colours, however, but by disguising itself as a blossom.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • A model insect with a green, felted body. It has red eyes, yellow antennae and a long, curled proboscis. Two pairs of wings are striped yellow and red.

    The migratory insect called "giant proboscis warning sign" is found in the Bavarian forest, but flies to Italy in winter. On the extensive journey, it can tuck its long proboscis under its belly for improved aerodynamics.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • An insect model with a green, felted body. Four equally large, leaf-shaped wings are green with dark veins.

    The "Ringkiesland animal" can be traced back to a discovery by Marlene and lives in flood zones. It is expertly adapted to its environment, because it can shape its head and legs into a ball and then roll over the water.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Small insect model with a felted, red body. Two red balls are at the end of the white antennae. The wings are almost smaller than the body, transparent with yellow edges. Red-brown colour fields emerge from the corners.

    The "red eye snouter" was discovered by Lieselotte. It has transparent wings and confuses its enemies with false eyes on its antennae. It also has a long proboscis, enabling it to drink from a larger distance.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Small insect model. It has a felty, yellow body with brown markings. It has a pair of transparent, teardrop-shaped wings and a red proboscis.

    This bug has the name "sucker", because it does not just feed on maggots, but also blood, making it a vampire. It has three whole armored plates and a thick winter coat. As his discoverer Kurt explains, it is very speedy and flies around predator's heads until they become dizzy.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Two small insect models. The bodies are black, felty, with small antennae. The wings are black and have three spikes, with a white, leaf-shaped outgrowth on the middle spike.

    Rahel discovered this curious animal, called "black snowdrop", which lives in extreme cold conditions. It has heat sensors on its feet and camouflages, as the name suggests, as a black snowdrop.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • Model of a dragonfly. The body is felty and blue with a brown spot. It has two pairs of oval, long, semi-transparent, blue and green wings, which are covered in fine veins.

    In very dry environments the "super dragonfly" can be found, discovered by Anton. It can store water in its abdomen, has sun-resistant skin that glows in the night and a cooling mechanism in its neck, activated by its tongue.

    mischer' traxler studio, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

  • An insect model with a felted, brown body and blue thorax. One pair of wings glistens in gold with white veins. The proboscis is green, long and curly.

    The "water sand snouter" lives in extreme heat and drought in desert regions, where it was discovered by Lieselotte. Its long proboscis is multi-functional and can on one hand expell a loud scream to deter enemies, on the other hand it can be used to drink out of the hollow-bodied hairs on its wings. The moth stores water in these for up to one month.

    mischer' traxler studio, Lieselotte, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Foto: Jacob Franke

  • These two closely related insects were discovered by Ivanka and Paul and are named "plier wasp" and "squish bumblebee". They live as best friends within the rainsforest and are super fast. Up to 5,000 km/h have been recorded, some voices even speak of 50,000 km/h.

    mischer' traxler studio, Ivanka & Paul, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: Jacob Franke

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Choco insect Making with mischertraxler studio

How an insect for the "Insektenreich" is made.

mischer'traxler studio

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