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Browsing Biomes (WIP)
Artwork, Rabbit Island Foundation, Calumet, USA, 2024
The
project reflects on Rabbit Island’s ecosystem by creating an interactive
map. It aims to visualize the relationship between the island's plants,
animals, soil, temperature, humidity, and other ecological factors and
to simulate changes in these relationships caused by climate change and
other anthropogenic disturbances. Due to its small surface area and
naturally isolated territory, Rabbit Island provides a unique
opportunity to do so, enabling the collection of data on the ground,
which will be combined with satellite images to provide a comprehensive
view of the ecosystem. The anticipated outcome is an interactive “fuzzy”
map of the island consisting of several visual layers and simulations
of possible future developments. The map is based on a geographic grid
system developed by a major tech company and critically reflects on its
own technology to address the abstraction of landscapes in the past and
today. Utilizing a varied approach that incorporates not only a map, but
also diagrams, imagery, written explanations, and on-site video
recordings, we strive to comprehend the intricate interconnections that
comprise the ecosystem of Rabbit Island, as well as its broader
historical and geographical significance both within and beyond its
immediate surroundings.