CHANGING SCALES | 2023
Life has existed on Earth for billions of years. During this time, the planet has collapsed, continents have shifted, temperatures have soared, the surface has frozen, volcanoes have erupted, and celestial bodies have collided with the oceans. Earth has endured five mass extinctions, and 99% of the species that once inhabited it are now extinct.
When you think about it, "climate change" doesn’t seem like such an unusual term for a planet that has faced such extreme disturbances. Why do we humans care so much about it now? Perhaps it's because we recognize that the next mass extinction may be caused by us. Honestly, I’m not sure if we have enough time to stop it.
As a scientist and visual artist, I strive to be truthful with the information I share in my work. For this particular installation, I spent weeks contemplating how to approach these looming words: "climate change" — seeing it, understanding it, and evidencing it. Researching Earth's tumultuous past, I came across the story of a microscopic group of bacteria known as cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which triggered a drastic shift in the planet’s climate billions of years ago.
At some point in history, these microscopic organisms floated on the ocean's surface, adapted, and evolved the ability to produce oxygen. Species that couldn’t adapt became extinct, and the planet reconfigured and re-established itself. Today, cyanobacteria are found in water and soil across the globe, producing about 10% of Earth’s oxygen.
In Changing Scales, I wanted to bring into human perception these microscopic organisms that have shaped and continue to shape life on Earth. These same organisms, once responsible for a mass extinction, are now essential to life as we know it. No, I’m not comparing our destructive human actions to the natural history of cyanobacteria. But if we start to see what’s in front of us—changing scales, understanding the life histories of species, and recognizing that we are part of a complex, interdependent system—then:
— Perhaps we can once again see ourselves as an integral part of nature;
— Perhaps we can change the ominous future ahead;
— Perhaps we can realize that it is in our hands to alter the planet’s course.
Exhibitions
2023 · Sensing the Environment
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, United States
