Art Meets Microbes: Yi's Living Sculptures Bloom

Artist Anicka Yi is currently showcasing works that explore the intersection of machine and microbial life across New York. At Storm King Art Center, columns filled with vibrant microbial ecosystems, developed over two years, are displayed like an archaeological find. These "Message from the Mud" installations utilize Winogradsky columns, creating self-contained ecosystems from local soil and pond water.

Meanwhile, at the New Museum, two of Yi's autonomous, jellyfish-like flying machines, dubbed "aerobes," drift through the exhibition space. These "In Love with the World" installations were previously featured at Tate Modern. Yi's practice, rooted in film theory and philosophy, often grapples with the ephemeral and the microscopic, challenging societal discomfort with these elements.

Yi's exploration began with personal gut health issues, leading her to investigate the power of bacteria. She collaborates with scientists, including microbiologists and neuroscientists for AI projects. Her work aims to make visible the invisible systems around us, questioning monumentality by embracing impermanence and the vast, often overlooked intelligence within microorganisms and technology.