Rewilded Topography is a series of artworks—living miniature ecosystems for exploring climate change narratives.

Embedded with a suite of indigenous plants, sensors, lights, motors, and cameras, the Topographies can create immersive interactive experiences despite their scale. Yet as miniatures, they explore the philosophy and potential of Degrowth as a tactic for combatting climate change.

Exhibited with Feral File, June 2022 Created in collaboration with Michael Fromm

RIG

The architectural skeleton of a sprawling commercial site sits atop asphalt adorned with decrepit solar powered street lamps. Red oak, slate and quartz crystal break through the blacktop while moss collects droplets of shimmering water vapor. Intermingling layers of fog create depth and mysterious lighting effects.

The sculpture has a static system of sensors and actuators, but the behavior of the plants is emergent, to be documented and streamed using the motorized camera.

Live plants, soil, water, ceramic, LEDs, electronics including homemade solar panels, Tesla coil, Arduino, Jetson Nano, code, steel structure, acrylic vitrine

REWILDED TOPOGRAPHY #1
FERAL FILE EXHIBITION + NFT SALES, JUNE 2022

Interactive FPV

Reproducing the experience of freely exploring landscapes in the wild, individual users controlled the live feed from within the topography.

Users submitted dates between 2022-2100 to envision the future landscape based on current climate projections. The date impacted manmade and natural elements within the ecosystem, from the stability of the electric grid to ambient conditions including fog and light temperature. As dates approached 2100, the ecosystem depicted more extreme weather events, prompting meditation around climate justice and impending collapse.

NFT Series

The resulting performance video was minted as an NFT distributed to all spectators.

A separate short film with a linear narrative was minted as a unique NFT.