It’s been a good week for ... creativity
A beetle named Spike has been drawing attention to himself on the internet. Spike, who lives in Japan's Nagano prefecture with teacher Mandy Bryant, is a stag beetle, and part of a globally threatened species.
Despite his scary appearance, Spike is described by his owner as a sweet little bug with a big personality. Photos of the beetle's works of artist went viral, after his owner took "silly pictures" of him moving around on a piece of paper with a marker pen between his mandibles – the antler-like appendages on a beetle's head. "Thinking it was funny, I posted those pictures and they exploded overnight," said Bryant.
When Bryant decided to auction off Spike’s portfolio on eBay, bids reached more than $130 (£100), with 15 per cent of proceeds going to a stag beetle conservation charity.
Looks like this beetle will be going straight to No 1 in the colour charts.
It’s been a bad week for ... China
The world has been enthralled by the 8000-plus life-sized Terracotta Warriors unearthed at the tomb complex of Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, since 1974 near Xi' in North West China.
But now they’ve got a fight on their hands.
A terracotta army created in a Scottish Highlands community project is drawing widespread attention. The 200 tiny clay figures were made by young people during drop-in sessions and by care home residents in Wester Ross.
Now Scotland's mini terracotta tartan army is being exhibited at Ullapool's An Talla Solais Gallery, with the figures on sale for charity. The include a clay monkey, a pirate, a ski-ing polar bear and a mini sculpture of the late singer Amy Winehouse.
Artist co-ordinator Anne-Marie Quinn said: "The Tiny Terracotta Army is a beautiful symbol of a community, full of individual characters, all standing together in support of people made vulnerable by dementia.”
Jane Portal, Keeper of the Asia Department at the British Museum, who was responsible for bringing some of China's Terracotta Army to the UK 10 years ago said: "I am delighted to see that the terracotta warriors of the First Emperor of China are enjoying an afterlife in the Scottish Highlands. They are truly a global army."
Scotland is renowned for combat with the claymore. Perhaps we have now found fame for a more peaceful form of fighting: more clay.
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