The second TransNatural event will be opening on March 4. I am really drawn to this exhibit because it mixes art and technology in a very compelling way to make statements and ask questions about the biochemical world we live in today and what the future will be.
Some of these questions include:
- How should robots look?
- What should robots do?
- How will we classify what is natural or unnatural when life is built from scratch?
- In simplifying life to its molecular interactions, might we accidentally degrade our sense of self?
- Are promises of sustainability and unparalleled good health seductive enough to accept such compromise?
Below I have highlighted only a few of the exhibitors that will be present for this event.
Lampshade robot James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau - Flies and moths are naturally attracted to light. This lamp shade has holes based on the form of the pitcher plant enabling access for the insects but no escape. Eventually they expire and fall into the microbial fuel cell underneath. This generates the electricity to power a series of LEDs located at the bottom of the shade. These are activated when the house lights are turned off.
WV 2010-651 bis 673 BOTANIC CODE - 23 Aluminium Stangen Länge 300 cm
The New Tree of Life - Biotech promises us control over the natural world, but living machines need controlling. Biology doesn’t respect boundaries or patents. And in simplifying life to its molecular interactions, might we accidentally degrade our sense of self? Are promises of sustainability and unparalleled good health seductive enough to accept such compromise?
Singing flower. Because the parasite diverts the plant’s energy for its own purposes, only small flowers manage to grow.
RepRap
RepRap is a self-replicating machine – one that anyone can build given time and materials. It also means that – if you’ve got a RepRap – you can print lots of useful stuff, and you can print another RepRap for a friend.
At the symposium speakers will offer a varied introduction to workshops that will explore the theme in roughly three different area’s: economy, aesthetics, and everyday life.
Workshop and lectures by:
James Auger & Jimmy Loizeau (UK), Sascha Pohflepp (UK), Arne Hendriks (NL), Christina Stadlbauer (AT) / The Human and Apian Foraging Network en TU Delft/ iGEM (NL).
Participants exhibition:
James Auger & Jimmy Loizeau (UK), Arne Hendriks (NL), Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg & James King (UK), David Benqué (UK), Sascha Pohflepp (UK/ GER), Frederik de Wilde (BE), Windowfarms (USA), Sonja Bäumel (AUT), Thomas Lommee (BE), Mike Thompson (UK/ NL), Jorinde Voigt (GER), Thomas Thwaites (UK), Walewijn den Boer (NL), RepRap / Ultimaker 3D printer, Erik de Bruijn (NL)
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