Unity of Nature
Starting this week in Unity magazine, Bioratorium® is sponsoring a captivating new interview series that delves into the cutting edge of nature-inspired art and design. Called ‘Unity of Nature’, and hosted by our founder, Dr. Melissa Sterry, this series spotlights both emerging and established creative talents that are collaborating with living organisms like fungi, lichen, algae and trees to craft groundbreaking works that blur the lines between art, science, and sustainability. Each interview offers a fascinating glimpse into how nature can inspire bold, innovative solutions to the great environmental and social challenges of our time. Welcome to a world where art and design comes alive.
The series kicks off with an interview with bioartist Audrey Rangel Aguirre, an interdisciplinary Mexican artist based in England and explores her visionary work at the intersection of art and science, including the groundbreaking project Terras Lux. Read about how Audrey’s artistic intuition meets the politics and poetics of contemporary art practice in the interview here, and find a summary below.
Exploring the Intersection of Art, Science, and Living Systems: Audrey Rangel Aguirre
The Unity of Nature series, hosted by Dr. Melissa Sterry, launches with an inspiring interview featuring Audrey Rangel Aguirre, a Mexican interdisciplinary artist based in England. Audrey’s work bridges the worlds of art and science, delving into the energetic connections between microbial ecosystems in soil and the human body. Through her project Terras Lux, she envisions a future where artistic intuition, scientific discovery, and ecological ethics intertwine, fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.
Embracing Unpredictability: The Heart of Bioart
Audrey’s work centers on living organisms, inherently embracing the unpredictable forces of nature. She views unpredictability not as a challenge but as a catalyst for growth and understanding. "Living organisms evolve by their own rules," she explains. Collaborating with them means growing alongside them, uncovering life’s interconnectedness. This unpredictability, she asserts, mirrors the processes that bind all living beings and serves as a philosophical foundation for creativity.
The Genesis of Terras Lux
Audrey’s fascination with energy led her to the microscopic world of soil microbes. Discovering organisms that produce bioelectricity was a turning point, revealing the vital, unseen roles these entities play on Earth. Soil, as she describes, is a vast macroorganism brimming with secrets and potential. Her work investigates how these microscopic lifeforms can inform sustainable energy solutions, fostering coexistence between humans and other living systems.
Ethical Art: Respecting Life at Every Scale
Ethics guide every facet of Audrey’s artistic practice. She refrains from modifying living organisms, choosing instead to observe and amplify their natural processes. Rejecting synthetic biology, Audrey emphasizes the importance of honoring the millennia-long evolution that produced the intricate systems she studies. This commitment to respect and reciprocity shapes not only her creative direction but also her collaborative research with scientists in fields like microbiology and bioenergy.
Time, Growth, and Decay: A Philosophical Lens
Audrey integrates the processes of time, growth, and decay into her work, viewing them as existential threads connecting all life. These processes anchor her in the present moment and bridge disciplines, merging biology, physics, and spirituality. Growth and decay are not merely biological phenomena but philosophical markers of humanity’s place within the universe’s flux.
Collaboration Across Disciplines
Audrey’s interdisciplinary collaborations with scientists enrich her artistic practice. Working with experts in fields such as astrobiology, biotechnology, and philosophy allows her to integrate complex scientific concepts into her art. She sees these partnerships as a means of advancing knowledge, transforming scientific discoveries into speculative visions of the future through artistic intuition.
Ephemerality and the Evolving "Final Product"
Unlike traditional art forms, Audrey’s creations are dynamic and ephemeral, evolving alongside the organisms she collaborates with. Documentation through photography, video, and sound captures moments in these living processes. Yet, she emphasises that the “final product” is not static; it represents a step in an ongoing journey of co-creation and inquiry.
Living Organisms as Co-Creators
Audrey considers the living organisms in her work to be co-creators rather than mere tools. Her deep respect and admiration for these entities shape her practice, which is driven by love and a desire to inspire wonder in others. By showcasing the beauty and complexity of life through her art, Audrey hopes to foster a sense of connection, reciprocity, and joy in the natural world.
Conclusion: A Vision of Unity
Audrey Rangel Aguirre’s work is a testament to the transformative power of nature-inspired art. By harmonizing artistic creativity, scientific inquiry, and ecological ethics, she offers a vision of a future where humanity collaborates with living systems to foster sustainable, meaningful connections across all scales of life.