'BODY HABITAT ~ Suspended between forms of living'

2021

 

‘Body Habitat’ is a media-artistic-scientific examination of non-human forms of life. It explores the artistic work with a vital organism and translates its habitat into a living sculpture to create a visceral connection between the viewer and a completely different form of life - the slime mold: Physarum polycephalum -, whose habitat and abilities for survival are a central theme in order to vividly lead the viewer back to a direct confrontation with nature.

 

The slime mould is a fascinating unicellular organism, a resilient shapeshifter, that can oscillate through its natural life cycle beyond the vital, plasmodial stage of growth into either the development of spores (a form of reproduction), hibernation or (seldom) death. It acts as an agent of nature as it grows, expands and moves like a creeping garden with unpredictable changes of ‚becoming and decay‘ occurring over time.

 

The hybrid sculptural setting connects the slime mold’s natural habitat - the woods - with the life it has been habituated to lead in isolated, controlled and monitored human captivity - the petri-dish.

The intrinsic connection between humans and nature - as the most original source of knowledge and innovation - is shown as a complex relationship, consisting of explorative approach, admiration, care and also incomprehension through an experimental practice. In the end, the question of how living matter relates to the characteristics of form is posed.