Terrarium

This interactive installation consists of three video sequences embedded inside of a life size diorama of a domestic interior space.

The inhabitant of the living room is away, and the viewer is able to step inside and experience their world. The inhabitant is fueling the dominative aspects of the human species, which is reflected through the three video sculptures and accompanying décor inside the room.  There are many ways in which humans have changed their relationship to other species over the past few hundred years. This interactive installation is inspired by historical practices of animal display and uses of the animal body. For example the capture and display practices of zoological institutions, and the original wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosities).

Part 1: The Wheel

The Wheel section of the installation has a few different elements working together to create an interactive experience. The image of the mouse in the forest is a rear projection screen that functions as a background layer of a constructed diorama environment. It appears that what the viewer sees is the forest floor, with a moss and leaf covering. The mouse is visible because a path has been made through the entangled underbrush of twigs and vines. The wheel and the video are connected through a sensor system. As the wheel is turned, a digital compass is turning inside. A wire receiver inside of the tower collects information about what degree the compass is at. The receiver is connected to the EZIO microcontroller attached to a PC. The software Macromedia Director reads the information about the compass location and translates that to the mouse video. There are many frames of the mouse video, which are shuffled through, depending on the compass location. When the wheel turns, the mouse moves.

Part 2: The Borrametz

The Borrametz is a sculptural video installation consisting of a hanging environment fabricated from a plastic globe and an outer metal encasing. Inside the structure is a miniature terrain with an embedded film depicting an interpretation of the medieval legend, the Borrametz zoophyte.

For me, the Borrametz represents a position in the timeline of interspecies breakdown. The origin of the Borametz tale is unknown, but it was spread by travelers and writers throughout Europe. It became an interesting tale of a creature whose inherent vulnerability was cause for its rarity. While it became an inspiration to writers and illustrators, others saw an opportunity to exploit a fictional creature. This is why Borrametz pods were fabricated, traded and sold, and kept as valuable objects in Wunderkammern, or natural history collections. In the terrarium video, the Bo-Peep character and the Borrametz are held in captivity and are forced to live in an eternal cycle of nurturance, vulnerability and inevitable death.

Exhibited at: UCLA New Wight Gallery and Army Center for the Arts ‘In the Nursery’ 2003