Symplasma: Experiment, 2023

Alive, yet static. Symplasma, also known as glass sponges, are the oldest living organisms on Earth. Their core, created from silica, is both rigid but also very brittle, making them easily damaged by human seafloor activity.

The artist explores the unexpected results of preserving Symplasma by creating ideal living conditions for them in the lab. The lack of struggle for food and the absence of adversaries encourages each specimen to grow freely. In isolation, they achieve a variety of forms, limited only by the space available.

Experiment is the first of a number of Symplasma series. Other peculiarities of the phylum will be explored in subsequent series.

Symplasma: Experiment is part of the group exhibition Imperfections.