Arabidopsis Symphony shows us that there is more to a simple plant than meets the human eye. In this interactive outdoor experience involving augmented reality and music, visitors dive into the lively inner world of the ‘Arabidopsis Thaliana’ — an inconspicuous plant that exists all around the world, but grows and develops differently due to local climate, weather and soil conditions. Through complex adaptations in genes and hormones, the Arabidopsis Thaliana directly responds to changes in its environment (day or night, rain or sunshine). For this reason, it is the ‘lab rat’ among plants.
In Arabidopsis Symphony, these invisible processes are translated into an immersive experience that tells us: plants are not that different from humans after all — we are all part of the same system. The artwork combines augmented reality with an ever-changing musical composition. Walk through a field of human-sized plants while witnessing how real-time environmental changes influence their growth. The experience is unique everytime and everywhere: a rainy night in Georgia will look and sound completely different from a sunny afternoon in Vienna. Come back again, and discover a new environment-based composition.
At the basis of Arabidopsis Symphony lies extensive scientific research by Sander van der Krol from Wageningen University (Netherlands), who meticulously monitors everything that happens inside his Arabidopsis Thaliana plants. Sander collects all this data in complicated Excel sheets that only plant physiologists can understand. Thanks to this collaboration with Fillip Studios, everyone can now gain insight into the inner life of plants.
Aribidopsis Symphony, a collaboration between Wageniengen University Plant Sciences and Fillip Studios, is part of the Atlanta Design Festival. It will be on display at The Yard at Ponce City Market September 30 – October 9 during PCM’s regular operating hours (10am - 9pm). Free and open to all.
Additional Information
To experience Arabidopsis Symphony, visitors need to download the Arabidopsis Symphony application from the App Store or Google Play. Although it has a fairly small download size, it is recommended to install the app before visiting the location (unless there is a local WiFi spot). A QR code on location allows for downloading on the spot.
Since music plays a key role in the experience, it is recommended to wear headphones.
Learn More >