Technical Details:
Medium: 5-minute loop video installation
Programming: Particle systems and fluid simulation algorithms developed using Processing and GLSL
Sound: Algorithmic sound composition
Installation: Video projection onto water contained in a custom-fabricated metal tank

Concept and Process:
Autopoiesis is a video installation that simulates algae bloom phenomena in optimal conditions, using algorithmic simulation and an ambient soundscape to create a vigorous and immersive experience.

Most algae blooms are formed by cyanobacteria, the first ancient organisms to perform photosynthesis on Earth. These green patches spreading across water bodies are often portrayed as environmental hazards, yet the causes of algae blooms are frequently linked to industrial waste, which leads to water eutrophication. Under favorable conditions, cyanobacteria are able to double their population in a single day, demonstrating their remarkable reproductive ability—the very essence of autopoiesis. The more they reproduce, the faster they photosynthesize, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, contributing to the renewal of ecological systems and the rebalancing of the atmosphere. This work presents an alternative narrative of algae blooms, which play a significant role as photosynthesizers and oxygen producers.

The installation’s soundtrack is composed of individual faint sound pieces produced by cyanobacteria’s oxygen-containing bubbles. Through computation and abstract representation, this work makes it possible to interact with this invisible and rarely heard action, inviting the viewer to contemplate humanity’s essential reliance on oxygen and its circulation within Earth’s systems.

Title Meaning:
Autopoiesis describes a system that is capable of continuously producing and maintaining itself by creating its own parts. Originating in biology, this concept explains the nature of living systems and articulates a fundamental distinction between machines and living organisms. In this project, I use autopoiesis to frame an understanding of life through the example of cyanobacteria and algae blooms, extending our perception of life and our ancestral relationship to them.

Artistic Context:
Autopoiesis emerges from my ongoing research into geology, the evolution of the Earth, and trajectories of life. Inspired by Gaia theory, I want to explore how Earth becomes habitable, and how life participates in maintaining the conditions for its own existence. This research is also my way of responding to the climate crisis, rethinking life, agency, and interdependence at planetary and geological scales.