Eindhoven has become synonymous with stellar design over the past few years, and this latest exhibition at the MU Artspace certainly doesn't disappoint.
As part of Fluid Matter, the Estuary installation transforms algae into brightly coloured bio art. "Estuaries are transition zones between fresh water and salt water environments. The inflows of both sea water and fresh water provide high levels of nutrients in the water, making these areas extremely productive natural habitats. With sixty percent of mankind living alongside estuaries, the anthropogenic influence on their biology is considerable.
© Xandra van der Eijk
"Estuary forces saline and fresh water fluids together in a closed climate. As the present salt water organisms battle decay due to their hostile environment, an abundance of fresh water life originates from its forced death. What’s visible is the colourful behaviour of living organisms struggling to manage a situation influenced, or even orchestrated by man."
All of the hues are fully natural, with the installation constantly changing colour thanks to the decaying algae and thriving microbes. The algae has been harvested from the former Dutch estuary Oosterschelde – famous for its storm surge barrier.
Alongside Estuary, an installation entitled Genesis explores the colour properties of extremophiles – microbes that can survive or even thrive under extreme conditions.
© Xandra van der Eijk
The Fluid Matter Exhibition, curated by William Myers & Angelique Spaninks, is now on at MU Artspace, Eindhoven. It runs until February 23rd. For more information, visit www.mu.nl .
All images © Xandra van der Eijk
