Quote from the Roots article
In May 2021 an article is published on the Flora's Ark project in 'Roots' magazine Vol 18 (1) of the BGCI - Botanic Gardens Conservation International. It is quoted below. Roots readers: for more information on the proposition, questionnaire and downloads, please scrol down.
Flora's Ark, an artistic seed-bank and statement of hope
Flora’s Ark, the photosynthesis solution
Climate change is a catastrophe in slow motion, caused by the way humans relate to nature. It might already be too late to reverse the trend. Our planet will then become largely uninhabitable. Research into terraforming Mars will soon be applicable on Earth.
Starting from this disturbing idea, the artist group Tropism Art & Science Collective proposes an exhibition concept for botanic gardens called Photosynthesis. With photography, art, film and installations they investigate ways of perceiving nature different from the common perspective. The centrepiece is Flora’s Ark, a monumental terraforming time capsule with a small seed bank.
In May 2021 an article is published on the Flora's Ark project in 'Roots' magazine Vol 18 (1) of the BGCI - Botanic Gardens Conservation International. It is quoted below. Roots readers: for more information on the proposition, questionnaire and downloads, please scrol down.
Flora's Ark, an artistic seed-bank and statement of hope
Flora’s Ark, the photosynthesis solution
Climate change is a catastrophe in slow motion, caused by the way humans relate to nature. It might already be too late to reverse the trend. Our planet will then become largely uninhabitable. Research into terraforming Mars will soon be applicable on Earth.
Starting from this disturbing idea, the artist group Tropism Art & Science Collective proposes an exhibition concept for botanic gardens called Photosynthesis. With photography, art, film and installations they investigate ways of perceiving nature different from the common perspective. The centrepiece is Flora’s Ark, a monumental terraforming time capsule with a small seed bank.
Flora's Ark monumental time-capsule based on the serotinous phenomenon of a Banksia, simulated at the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam.
The climate emergency
As a term, climate change doesn't sound very threatening. Changes can be good or bad, and what harm is there in a slight rise of summer temperatures anyway? But in fact, what we are dealing with is a major catastrophe threatening life on earth, and it is happening right now.
The artists of the Tropism Art & Science Collective investigate a scenario in which this climate catastrophe is already irreversible. It cannot be stopped, only be slightly toned down. Each year rising temperatures break record after record. Forests are burning, the polar ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising, permafrost is melting, desserts are spreading, storms and flooding are more frequent and severe, and pandemics are rampant. Animals and plants are becoming extinct at a speed not seen since the end of the age of the dinosaurs. And meanwhile, we clear-cut forests in an unprecedented way, pollute air, water and soil, suffocate the oceans with plastics, drill for oil in the last remaining wildernesses. And so on.
Extrapolating the statistics of this ecocide shows that someday soon the earth will become a barren place not unlike Mars. In anticipation of this scorched earth, we should already now prepare to revitalise the planet into the green-blue one it once was. What we have to do is some serious terraforming. The good thing is, we can do it right here, on earth. By not going to Mars we even can save billions in travel expenses. But we have to prepare for it right now.
Join Flora's Ark
The idea in anticipation of this worst-case scenario is the project 'Flora's Ark'. An initiative for botanic gardens, zoo's, science museums and other institutions. A Flora's Ark is a monumental artwork consisting of a time capsule containing a small seed bank and instructions to build a water vapour condenser for emergency irrigation. This enables small scale, but widespread, terraforming opportunities for future use. If you join, we can make this into a real Flora's Ark Armada.
As a term, climate change doesn't sound very threatening. Changes can be good or bad, and what harm is there in a slight rise of summer temperatures anyway? But in fact, what we are dealing with is a major catastrophe threatening life on earth, and it is happening right now.
The artists of the Tropism Art & Science Collective investigate a scenario in which this climate catastrophe is already irreversible. It cannot be stopped, only be slightly toned down. Each year rising temperatures break record after record. Forests are burning, the polar ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising, permafrost is melting, desserts are spreading, storms and flooding are more frequent and severe, and pandemics are rampant. Animals and plants are becoming extinct at a speed not seen since the end of the age of the dinosaurs. And meanwhile, we clear-cut forests in an unprecedented way, pollute air, water and soil, suffocate the oceans with plastics, drill for oil in the last remaining wildernesses. And so on.
Extrapolating the statistics of this ecocide shows that someday soon the earth will become a barren place not unlike Mars. In anticipation of this scorched earth, we should already now prepare to revitalise the planet into the green-blue one it once was. What we have to do is some serious terraforming. The good thing is, we can do it right here, on earth. By not going to Mars we even can save billions in travel expenses. But we have to prepare for it right now.
Join Flora's Ark
The idea in anticipation of this worst-case scenario is the project 'Flora's Ark'. An initiative for botanic gardens, zoo's, science museums and other institutions. A Flora's Ark is a monumental artwork consisting of a time capsule containing a small seed bank and instructions to build a water vapour condenser for emergency irrigation. This enables small scale, but widespread, terraforming opportunities for future use. If you join, we can make this into a real Flora's Ark Armada.
Flora's Ark monumental time-capsule, seed bank inspired on the cabbage butterfly egg.
Statement of hope
Of course, many botanic gardens already do have conservation plans and maintain seed banks. By proposing the idea for future terraforming, Flora's Ark aims to raise public awareness about the severeness of the climate catastrophe and the need for conservation. Most of all, Flora's Ark wants to be a monumental statement of hope. Probably, most of the seed banks of the Flora's Ark Armada will not really be utilised in the future. They metaphorically state the hopeful promise of the resilience of nature and of mankind. Because the most sustainable solution to global heating is the elementary process of life itself: the photosynthesis of algae, of plants, of forests.
Concept of the closed seed cone
The concept of Flora’s Ark’s time capsule is inspired by the serotinous behaviour of certain pinecones releasing their seeds after a fire. Likewise, the time capsule will be opened only after being exposed to severe heat, fire and drought.
With this concept in mind, each time capsule will be designed by a different artist or team, in consultation with the participating venue.
Of course, many botanic gardens already do have conservation plans and maintain seed banks. By proposing the idea for future terraforming, Flora's Ark aims to raise public awareness about the severeness of the climate catastrophe and the need for conservation. Most of all, Flora's Ark wants to be a monumental statement of hope. Probably, most of the seed banks of the Flora's Ark Armada will not really be utilised in the future. They metaphorically state the hopeful promise of the resilience of nature and of mankind. Because the most sustainable solution to global heating is the elementary process of life itself: the photosynthesis of algae, of plants, of forests.
Concept of the closed seed cone
The concept of Flora’s Ark’s time capsule is inspired by the serotinous behaviour of certain pinecones releasing their seeds after a fire. Likewise, the time capsule will be opened only after being exposed to severe heat, fire and drought.
With this concept in mind, each time capsule will be designed by a different artist or team, in consultation with the participating venue.
The Photosynthesis exhibition
The Flora's Ark monumental seed bank will also be the centrepiece of a exhibition called Photosynthesis. The Tropism Art & Science Collective has curated exhibitions under this name in the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam (2013), in the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (2015) and in the Dutch Flower Art Museum (2018, 2019 and 2020). The exhibition in Edinburgh was the largest, with 140 artworks, 10 films, two big installations and a plant concert. These exhibitions, made by artists and scientists associated with the collective, emphasise the fundamental source and force of life: photosynthesis. They are shedding new light on plants and do so in a variety of ways, often using scientific visualisation techniques. The current exhibition proposal, called 'Photosynthesis versus Ecocide', focusses on the extrapolated impact of the climate catastrophe. Disguised as an art exhibition it confronts us with treats like deforestation, dying coral reefs, mass-extinctions and the misperception of biomass. It celebrates the most important and elementary force of life: Photosynthesis.
Interested venues can visit the page www.tropism.eu/floras-ark for more information and guideline downloads.
- - end of the quote of the Roots article - -
You can find the actual article here.
If you would like to download the actual Roots article, please scroll down and find a pdf link in the download section.
Artworks of the 'Photosynthesis versus Ecocide' exhibition.
The exhibition contains of a range of photographic series, installations and films. Each series of artworks is in a specific style and theme within the overarching theme of photosynthesis as solution for the climate catastrophe. An accompanying text clarifies the context. The fine art works are made in limited editions and are for sale with a commission for the selling venue.
Photographic artworks
Below some samples for the photography series of artworks.
First four pictures are contemporary dead trees photographed in infra red giving a future view in an apocalyptic spectrum.
Followed by two photographs of illusionary landscapes and two photographs of leafy green from the chlorophyll solution series.
Four pictures from "Places", a series of disintegrating virtual forest landscapes.
Next is a sample of the series of Poem Posters on aspects of climate change.
Then, tree Scanning Electron Microscopy photographs of stomata, the breathing mouths of plants taking in CO2 and releasing oxygen.
The series Ultra Vanity shows the perception of insects in UV-vision. Ultra-violet light triggers phototropism, the movement of plants.
And ast last a series of X-ray diorama's show the transparent flowers with animals stand for the resilience and adaptivity of nature.
Installations
Optional are spacial light installations that can be build to measure. Soundscape installations are also a posibility.
Below tree samples:
• Biotope Box with sweeping plants, symbolised how we boxed in the remaining rainforests,
• 'Nature Calling' an ice-bear in a phone boot on a melting ice-berg.
• Help, showing video typography with raging wild-fires.
Films
Besides installations and photographic artworks, the exhibition also contains a selection of ten short films. The documentary film on Flora's Ark itself is a work in progress that will also be included.
Below a few samples of climate change related films made by the Tropism team.
• Red-end and the Seemingly Symbiotic Society, a short stop-motion animation on growth and greed.
• Red-end and the Factory Plant, a short stop-motion animation on force feeding pitcher plants.
• Coralia Morte, a sad film on dead coral shot at the shores of the Great Barrier Reef.
• Flora Magica, a short film of a botanic garden visitor overwhelmed by green.
• Dia Herbaria, a short film about plants parts framed between the glass of a slide and directly projected.
• Flora Sonora, test set-up. Interactions with a plant are made audible by an E.E.G. module which controls a synthesizer.
Besides installations and photographic artworks, the exhibition also contains a selection of ten short films. The documentary film on Flora's Ark itself is a work in progress that will also be included.
Below a few samples of climate change related films made by the Tropism team.
• Red-end and the Seemingly Symbiotic Society, a short stop-motion animation on growth and greed.
• Red-end and the Factory Plant, a short stop-motion animation on force feeding pitcher plants.
• Coralia Morte, a sad film on dead coral shot at the shores of the Great Barrier Reef.
• Flora Magica, a short film of a botanic garden visitor overwhelmed by green.
• Dia Herbaria, a short film about plants parts framed between the glass of a slide and directly projected.
• Flora Sonora, test set-up. Interactions with a plant are made audible by an E.E.G. module which controls a synthesizer.
The timeline
A first and second pilot version of the Flora's Ark Time-Capsule and seed bank will be implemented as prototype in the summer of 2022 at two botanic gardens in the Netherlands, respectively the Historic Garden Aalsmeer (confirmed) and another garden, possibly the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam.
Based on these experiences, various appearances of a final version of the artwork can be offered to participating venues.
We expect to be able to be able to realise four exhibitions a year between 2022 and 2025.
The Flora's Ark Time Capsule artworks themselves are built to last for at least thirty years.
The proposition
We are looking for botanic gardens, or other venues, willing to participate in developing Flora's Ark as a pilot project. We ask these venues to state their interest in writing. After receiving letters of intent, we can apply for further funding and develop custom solutions made to measure within the concept of the Flora's Ark project.
There are several ways in which a botanic garden, zoo or science museum can participate:
- ‘DIY’
The venue downloads a set of guidelines, including the logo, and makes arrangements with a local artist to build a time capsule. By participating in the project, the venue commits itself to documenting the process. - Time Capsule
Tropism Art & Science Collective designs and builds a unique version of the Time Capsule for the participating venue. Also here, by participating in the project, the venue commits itself to documenting the process. - Photosynthesis exhibition
As above, as part of the ‘Photosynthesis versus Ecocide’ exhibition.
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere spike in May. Afterwards, levels drop during the northern hemisphere spring and summer, when plants are taking CO2 out of the atmosphere to grow. As part of the project, we propose to celebrate a CO2-decline-day on the 15th of May every year with a special ceremony at all of the Flora’s Ark Time Capsules.
As a final stage in the project all documentation will be collected and a documentary film will be released.
From the series Flora Imago, a trampled down herbarium of yesteryear.
Margot van de Stolpe
Downloads
• The Flora's Ark logo can be downloaded and can freely used in print or merchandising like T-shirts, postcard etc.
• The general Photosynthesis exhibition description PDF can also be downloaded.
• The actual Roots article
• The Flora's Ark logo can be downloaded and can freely used in print or merchandising like T-shirts, postcard etc.
• The general Photosynthesis exhibition description PDF can also be downloaded.
• The actual Roots article
| floras_ark_logo.jpg |
| photosynthesis.pdf |
| floras_ark_article.pdf |
How to get things roling?
Interested venues can fill in the questionnaire and contact us. Based on the answers, we can conceive a custom made plan, a quotation and in collaboration a funding plan. We could assist in funding applications on your part and we would need a letter of intent for funding on our part.
Early 20th century film on tropism by Dr. A.E. Navaz, Harvard University.
Tropism Art & Science Collective
A tropism (from Greek τρόπος, tropos, 'a turning') is a biological phenomenon, indicating a turning movement of a biological organism in response to an environmental stimulus. The most common example of tropism is a plant growing in the direction of light. Taking their lead from the biological phenomenon, the Tropists are a Dutch collective of installation artists, visual artists, photographers, designers, cineasts, technologists and scientists. In their work, they deal with phenomena occurring literally or figuratively at the edge of perception - events that are hardly noticed, but which lead to a reaction similar to how a plant responds to light. The Tropists feel a great affinity with the natural world, and their works seek to depict natural phenomena in new and unusual ways. Tropism triggers to turn the tide.
Contact
Tropism Art & Science Collective (Foundation)
Loods 6
KNSM-laan 155
1019 LC Amsterdam
+31 653 228858 Robin Noorda
+31 626 787989 Alfred Marseille
info (at) tropisme.nl
www.tropism.eu
Camber of Commerce 70961158 - Bank NL22 TRIO 0338 9233 65 BIC: TRIONL2U - VAT nr: 858526888B01
A tropism (from Greek τρόπος, tropos, 'a turning') is a biological phenomenon, indicating a turning movement of a biological organism in response to an environmental stimulus. The most common example of tropism is a plant growing in the direction of light. Taking their lead from the biological phenomenon, the Tropists are a Dutch collective of installation artists, visual artists, photographers, designers, cineasts, technologists and scientists. In their work, they deal with phenomena occurring literally or figuratively at the edge of perception - events that are hardly noticed, but which lead to a reaction similar to how a plant responds to light. The Tropists feel a great affinity with the natural world, and their works seek to depict natural phenomena in new and unusual ways. Tropism triggers to turn the tide.
Contact
Tropism Art & Science Collective (Foundation)
Loods 6
KNSM-laan 155
1019 LC Amsterdam
+31 653 228858 Robin Noorda
+31 626 787989 Alfred Marseille
info (at) tropisme.nl
www.tropism.eu
Camber of Commerce 70961158 - Bank NL22 TRIO 0338 9233 65 BIC: TRIONL2U - VAT nr: 858526888B01
