Microcosm #96

2024

Plastic recycling/Bioart

Project “Microcosm #96” (2024) explores the idea of safe space in an era of uncontrolled stress, where a 3D-printed plastic cocoon made from recycled materials becomes a sanctuary for fragile life. Inspired by the pandemic experience, the object metaphorizes the need for protection: its bone-like lattice structure, reminiscent of intricate root systems, slowly unfurls to reveal a symbiosis of moss and a young plant. Here, moss acts as an ancient guardian of life—retaining moisture, nourishing the root system, and stabilizing the microclimate within the plastic cocoon, transforming it from an artificial shell into part of a living ecosystem.

Technically, the work merges digital fabrication with organic processes: 3D printing shapes the plastic to mimic natural structures, while a glass dome creates a controlled environment for germinating a mandarin seed. This hybrid approach reflects the balance between technology and biology—plastic, typically associated with pollution, here becomes a foundation for new life, emphasizing material cyclicity and the potential for reinvention.

Philosophically, the project addresses the paradox of safety: it requires not the absence of stress but its measured presence, as in nature, where constraints foster resilience. The plastic cocoon, gradually “taking root” in soil, mirrors adaptation—even artificial barriers can integrate into ecosystems when aligned with their rhythms. The work invites viewers to reconsider the relationship between protection and freedom: a safe space doesn’t isolate but creates conditions for slow, steady growth, where technologies don’t dominate but sustain life. “What breathes stability into fragile systems?”—this question remains open, a reminder that even in an unstable world, points of equilibrium can be found.