Art and science are the Yin and Yang of powerful communication.
Historically (most notably during the Renaissance) man used the combined power of art and science to contribute to society by absorbing and in turn communicating the teachings of nature. Now more than ever we must revisit this approach and apply the forces of both disciplines to learning from one of our planet’s greatest assets: plants. It is up to our combined efforts to take what we can glean from plants and apply it to reversing the curve of extinction so as to find solutions for our common FUTURE. Through taking inspiration from plants and communicating through the arts we can help forge a new, sustainable path for Our Bio-Tech Planet and safeguard the Future of Plants and Humans.
In the Our Bio-Tech Planet: Future of Plants and Humans (OBTP) multimedia exhibition we present works that explore: how artistic practice combines with scientific research to communicate the power of plants
and ask: how can we use creativity and innovation to bridge the gap between science and art; plants and humans and embrace Yang and Yin for the good of our planet’s future?
Artworks that span from molecular orchestration to novel “Urplflanze”, sensual interactions to virtual intelligent networks and micro-landscapes to interstellar wonderings will cover ground-breaking innovations and invite the public to engage in relevant, contemporary discussions, expanding imaginations and inspiring bold visions. This varied, interactive art exhibition, held as part of The OBTP event in Rome’s lush Botanic Gardens, covers everything from Vegetation systems and biodiversity, the future of agriculture, nutrition and health, Genetic Modified Organisms and New Plant Breeding Techniques, life on another planet and interspecies communication. Through unique artistic expressions across genres, mediums and languages we interpret and re-communicate key scientific messages in a comprehensible way.
OBTP brings together a broad international and multigenerational group of artistic innovators to begin a new constructive dialogue and pose the difficult, delicate questions that are proving all the more necessary in today’s fraught world.
Our Bio-Tech Planet: Future of Plants and Humans exhibition presents the result of two artistic residencies, as part of Chic Innovation Consortium research, complemented by a range of multimedia works in dialogue with the latest scientific findings. Through the main theme of the interdependence of plants and humans, the worlds of art, science, and innovation meet to explore the future of our life with plants.
