^^ I don't know why that extraordinary "cthonic" figure is not better known. Not only is it an amazing technical feat, it's highly original, deeply archaic, and weirdly modern. Eerie and disturbing and yet kind of funny. (Giambologna must have enjoyed the prospect of making the giant's nostrils smoke.)
Reminds me of Michelangelo's last sculptures, where the living bodies are still half-trapped in the stone and trying to get out, struggling to be born (I don't think these works are "unfinished"): https://www.accademia.org/wp-content/up ... 60x628.jpg
"Ich kann gar nicht so viel fressen, wie ich kotzen möchte." - Max Liebermann,, Berlin, 1933
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts." - Richard Feynman, NYC, 1966
I had a notion the fungus is wearing the little grass hopper like an environment suit for a while, to wander around, perhaps even sensing through its host, exploring, joyriding. Perhaps there's a subtle and/or co-operative relationship between grass hopper and fungus?
Yeah, that is the most interesting part of it.
Sheldrake also writes about this very thing in Entangled life, thats why I posted the pic.
The fungus even guides the ant to a very specific place where moisture conditions are optimal for spore release, then cause the ant to bite down hard to keep it in place while the fungus releases spores to complete the cycle.
