Chameleon & Lichen

Lichen is a multi-layered organism consisting of fungi that lives together with algae or bacteria on trees, rocks and stones. Without each other these organismes can’t survive: mutualistic symbiosis. The chameleon perfectly blends in with the lichen due to their similar appearance. Thanks to this, the act of camouflaging is less energy-consuming, while the chameleon stays invisible for its prey and predators. The lichen is not harmed at all and the chameleon benefits from it: commensalistic symbiosis.

The Art of Living Together

The Art of Living Together is my ongoing series translating the natural phenomenon of symbiosis* within evolution. My inspiration was ignited when traveling in Angola and South Africa, where I started researching the fascinating intermingling between different species in their development. The interaction amidst these seemingly opposite forces is emphasized through the correlation of the geometric and the organic, the abstract and the detailed, the digital and the tactile, the East and the West, the North and the South, and the old and the new. When the fragile reciprocity is precisely balanced, these dissimilar worlds smoothly collide, merge and enforce each other.

*Symbiosis is a long-term biological association between two organisms of different species. The organisms, called symbionts, can be either in a mutualistic, commensalistic, competitive or parasitic relationship; interactions which can be beneficial, neutral or harmful for either one or both species.

From digital to tactile

I digitally transformed Chameleon & Lichen into 3D reliefs and textile structures by implementing ancestral tufting techniques. The tapestry is handmade by artisans in India with the utmost care. New Zealand Wool of the highest quality is used to create the durable and soft results, and yarns are coloured with natural chemical-free ingredients.

specs

artwork © Tjitske Storm – furniture design © Sjoerd Geerts – product-photos Uppix photo 1 JW Kaldenbach photo 2 Zindzi Zwietering @ Isola Gallery

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