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 my abstract drawings into 3D reliefs and textile structures by implementing ancestral tufting techniques. These tapestries are 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. Last but not least I added some sparks through implementing metal chains.
For Sunbirds & Tropical Flowers 2.0 I selected around 200 images and then cut-out, re-colored, adjusted and merged elements of these images to create the bursting composition. Thereafter I translated the complex multi-layered digital artwork to Jacquard fabric by implementing various weaving techniques while keeping in mind the Jacquard weaving method built up from eight colors only. The yarns are made from Pure New Wool, (Mercerized) Cotton and NewLife® Polyester and the Jacquard weaving is done within a sustainable textile production. For the optional version I added more 3D-effects and some sparks through hand-embroidery and beading. These works can be framed on an invisible wooden stretcher-frame.
Zebra & Ostrich
Ostriches and zebras are highly depending on each other’s sensory sensitivity. Ostriches are slightly hard of hearing and have a poor sense of smell while their eyesight is exceptional. Zebras on the other hand have weak eyesight but a great sense of smell and hearing. These two fluffy animals warn each other for lurking predators through smart use of their specialized awareness and heightened sensitivity: mutualistic symbiosis.
Sunbirds & Tropical Flowers 1.0
Most tropical flowers are uniquely beautiful with vibrant colours and long tubular calyx full of sugary nectar. However, they are also extremely vulnerable. Sunbirds feed on all the insects that visit these plants, and this helps in protecting the fragile flowers from being eaten or damaged by parasites. In return, the flowers have customized and adjusted their shape and size for the beaks of local sunbirds, to be exclusively available for them: mutualistic symbiosis.
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE FLOWERS AND BIRDS
Sunbirds & Tropical Flowers 2.0
(Suikerbekkies & Suikerbossies)
Most tropical flowers are uniquely beautiful with vibrant colours and long tubular calyx full of sugary nectar. However, they are also extremely vulnerable. Sunbirds feed on all the insects that visit these plants, and this helps in protecting the fragile flowers from being eaten or damaged by parasites. In return, the flowers have customized and adjusted their shape and size for the beaks of local sunbirds, to be exclusively available for them: mutualistic symbiosis.
Sunbirds & Tropical Flowers 2.0 contains (parts of) images made by: Dave Newbould – Agata Create – Anindhya Sundar – Anna Christien Piebenga (my mom) – Ansie Potgieter – Bannon Morrissy – Bradley Howington – Chris – Charles – Colin Watts – David Clode – Elizabeth Explores – Ian McKenzie Vincent – James Wainscoat – Jannet Serhan – Jeff Kingma – Kara Eads – Michael Dziedzic – Natalie Sedova – Nik Jeromel -Larisa Lofitskaya – Thanate Rooprasert – maratr – Carol Behan – Tjitske – Madhu Shesharam – Teddy – National Guard of the United States – Benjamas – Kiaoracmguth – Trudith – Josch – Momentmal – Bryan Hanson – Heidi Simpson – Fragis – Cor Gaasbeek – Freddie – Marisa – Michael Roth – Jean vd Meulen – many unknown global artists from the open-source platforms Rawpixel and Unsplash. Thanks to all these generous people! And thanks to nature, the main source of all.
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.
Welwitschia
(push-me-pull-you)
The Welwitschia Mirabilis and the Welwitschia Bug are living together in the African desert, balancing amidst the delicate interplay of entanglement and autonomy. A vulnerable dance that continues to proof its relevance for evolution. The bugs are often found in pairs, shuffling side-to-side in a dynamic of push-and-pull attraction, while the plants supply protection from the harsh sunlight. The Welwitschia sap is important food for the bugs, and in return these creatures help the flowers survive through pollination of the seeds. However, the bugs can also spread a fungus that can be harmful to the development of healthy seeds. It is an ambivalent relationship, with the risk of becoming a depleting symbiotic entanglement.
Big Love for MINI
Zebra & Ostrich was selected for a limited-edition rooftop sticker by MINI, perfectly matching their BIG LOVE FOR THE PLANET campaign.
artwork © Tjitske Storm – product-photos Uppix photos exhibition and MINI © about.today