Natural Technology, the second exhibition at the VU ART SCIENCE gallery, explores the boundaries and collaborations between organisms and technology. Artists on show are Jelle Korevaar, Tabita Rezaire, Wanda Tuerlinckx and Christiaan Zwanikken. In an additional podcast series scientists reflect on the implications of these new forms of life. Natural Technology. Welcome to the Symbiocene runs from 13 April until 12 November 2022.
The exhibition responds to the original Greek meaning of technology: the strife of an individual or group to perfect a particular method. It questions if new collaborations between organisms and technology could lead help Earth’s species to survive the climate crisis. The exhibition contributes to a discussion about a world where humans are no more important than fungi, plants or animals. This idea has been based on the philosophies of the Symbiocene, a term coined by the environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht.
Artworks
The artworks show how different organisms can interact with technology and each other, creating new forms of life. In his kinetic installations Jelle Korevaar combines mechanical technology with animal behaviour to create new forms of life. The Androids series of Wanda Tuerlinckx focuses on the thin line between humans and robots and human life in the near future. Hypergravity Bio Portal by Christiaan Zwanikken confronts us with the ingenious ways in which plants can adapt to environmental changes. The movie Premium Connect from Tabita Rezaire shows parallels between new digital networks and the oldest natural networks where fungi are communicating with roots of trees.
Partners
For this exhibition and podcast the VU ART SCIENCE gallery collaborated with CLUE+, Studiotopia and the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
