The red fire ant, native to South America, is one of the most widely distributed invasive species in the world. Harmful to many countries and regions. It breaks the balance of natural ecology and interferes with people's lives. Of course, invasive alien species are one of the results of human activities. Humans often harbor what seems like a natural animosity towards these harmful creatures in specific environments, hindering our ability to empathize with them. However, the targets of this animosity are not limited to pests. Even in today's media-savvy world, humans excel at generating and, at times, indulging in animosity towards unfamiliar individuals and regions.
When I researched fire ants in a small mountain village named Leming in Guangdong province. China, I found that through the earth, the Leming village is opposite to Argentina. Argentina is one of the homelands of the red fire ant. The red fire ants in Leming Village are digging their nests underground. I imagine that they miss their hometown and want to dig a tunnel that can pass through the earth. Through the tunnel, they can return to their hometown.
I added a homesickness imagination to these notorious ants. Along this thread, I started this long-term interdisciplinary project. Connect the hometown of fire ants, a foreign land, humans, ants, and various stories. In this project, I wanted to think about the complex ethical relationships between humans, invasive species, and the environment. This project is also about the identity of marginalized groups and the fragile balance of natural ecology.
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