Super Organism
The soil beneath our feet houses the largest living system to ever exist on earth. This endless network of fungi is invisible and underappreciated, yet it can be seen as the deep ‘brain’ of the forest. Almost all plants are connected to this network, and it acts as a communication channel in the ecosystem; exchanging messages about nutrients, water and photosynthesis, and storing CO2. This ancient symbiosis between plant and fungus is threatened by human activities such as artificial fertilisation, pesticide use and over-farming.
Together with scientists, Suzette Bousema explores how we can connect with and experience this network in its own right and without humanising it. To this end, she uses photography, fabrics, sound and scent in a sensory appeal to empathise with the bigger picture.
Bousema is collaborating with soil scientist Nadia Soudzilovskaia (Leiden University & Hasselt University) and PhD students (Leiden University) Riccardo Mancinelli, Weilin Huang & Chenguang Gao. The project was supported by the Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds, MIAP Foundation and the Mondriaan Fund.
Suzette Bousema (Netherlands, 1995) graduated from the KABK. As a multi-disciplinary artist, she works with scientists to depict current environmental issues. She explores our place in the world, on a scale ranging from the collective to the individual.
