The nonlinear patterns of a superorganism consists of an ant farm built with a gel that is a complete food source for the ants and was developed based on NASA’s studies of how ants can dig in microgravity.
The work addresses the entangled paths of the network structure built by the ants as a superorganism without borders or central control, whose constitution depends on the metabolic exchanges among ants and the environment.
The ant farm was produced with the consultancy of specialists in ants in order to assure their well-being and safety.
This piece was produced and presented in the context of the Media Art Friesland 2021.
The process of ants’ digging was documented during an online residency at @translocalia, 2021.
Credits
Science consultant: Tobias Seidl (Westfälische Hochschule, Bocholt, Germany)
Ant farm consultant and producer: Jan-Peter Oudenampsen (Ant’s Kingdom, Netherlands)
Supported by Media Art Friesland, Leeuwarden, Netherlands