Forest_Art_Intelligence
WHAT:
Forest Art Intelligence (FAI) aims to understand how to develop art forms capable of growing and evolving alongside a regenerating forest, whilst also actively benefiting that forest’s health: in collaboration with Samford Ecological Research Facility (SERF) and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN).
The extraordinary intelligences that underpin natural systems is currently inspiring and directing the development of our experimental sci-art process. Our aim is to understand how to develop art forms capable of growing and evolving alongside a regenerating forest, whilst also actively benefiting that forest’s health. We are developing embedded artworks, comprised of ecological materials, capable of slowly finding, and then occupying, their own intelligent ‘niches’, within the forest’s ecology - a speculative form we call an ‘Art Intelligence’. Outcomes will include both these Art Intelligences, the regenerated forest, an ongoing scientific survey of botanical and biodiversity changes, and a series of external hybrid art works suitable for touring exhibition.
Our art+science team have secured unprecedented permission to restore a currently cleared block of land back to high conservation-value forest at the partner's site, Samford Ecological Research facility (SERF). As the forest ecology is slowly returning to health, we are investigating how to develop symbiotic, process-based artworks across that entire site. We imagine ‘Art Intelligences’ are capable of growing & evolving with the forest whilst occupying their own intelligent, ecological ‘niches’ within that emerging forest – with the forest itself being the project’s ‘meta-artwork’.
Our project’s actions, & our on-site creations are therefore intended to directly benefit the forest through both 'performing' ecological functions, whilst also encouraging public engagement with the forest's processes of intelligent natural regrowth. (See the project's ANAT 2024 developmental blog, and 2025 developmental blog).
WHO: Collaborating Science Team: Dr David Tucker (QUT Landscape Ecologist), Dr Gabrielle Lebbink (QUT Freelance Plant and Invasion Ecologist), Dr Eleanor Velasquez (TERN Education and Training Manager at Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network TERN Australia) and Marcus Yates (QUT/SERF Site Technician). Further supported by A/Prof Caroline Hauxwell (QUT Microbiologist and Agricultural Biotechnologist).
PARTNERS: FAI is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, Samford Ecological Research Facility (SERF) and the NCRIS-enabled Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and QUT. In 2024 it was supported by the ANAT Synapse residency program/the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT),
INITIAL OUTCOMES:
- Artwork 1 - 'Analog Intelligence' (2024) for ISEA 2024
- Stop on the SERF Engaging Science Trail
- Public presentation at the SERF open day
- ANAT 2024 developmental blog
- 2025 developmental blog
Further Details (@March 2025)
FAI’s project’s primary artwork outcome is a native forest slowly re-growing on Country at SERF in SEQld. Since 2023 that forest (or more correctly ‘grassy woodland biome’) has begun to recover after 100 years of being slashed back to pasture. As the forest cycles through yet unknown states of recovery, the project’s art-science team are conducting ongoing, ritual caring actions for that forest - in service of Country’s needs (e.g. inoculation of soil materials/burning/weeding and botanical surveys). Set within that forest, a range of embedded artwork outcomes are/will uncover/speak to the resonances of that Country - suggested through alternative image and narrative.
Scientific Observations
The entire site, some of its non human inhabitants and its atmospheres above ground, are being periodically recorded/imaged - aerially and terrestrially using photo, laser and video, according to periodic and repeatable scientific protocols. Sub-surface soil sampling is also investigating the changing diversity of fungi and other microorganisms. Ambient audio of nonhumans is also being sampled across the entire site 24/7. Together all these collated, time-based, monitoring approaches will record and assess the site’s evolution with scientific accuracy.
The site also comprises Art Intelligences (AI), Art Intelligence Accelerators (AIA) and Art Intelligence Interpreters (AII).
Art Intelligences (AI) = Experimental artworks, embedded within the forest site, compatible with, & allied with the profound, natural intelligences of the forest (the meta-artwork) as it repairs and re-grows. These hybrid installations across the site ‘evolve with’ and ‘learn from’ the evolving forest whilst directly benefitting its growth. Ais might also evoke awe and encourage public engagement with the forest’s fluxes of intelligent natural regrowth. AIs are placed at principal, representative sites, and therefore stand in as proxy for the entire forest development. The first of these can be seen here.
Art Intelligence accelerators (AIA) = Additional/embellishing, creative elements added to Art Intelligences to enhance and accelerate local ecological processes – therefore intended primarily for non-humans. For example these may add additional benefit or encouragement to certain organisms to be and become, that in turn will further aid forest recovery.
Art Intelligence interpreters (AII) = Elements that create additional layers of engagement with the Ais, and their hosting forest, intended predominantly for human audiences (art and otherwise). Interpreters may be accessed both locally and/or remotely – (e.g. they may involve on-site translations in light sound & vibration and forms of online observation). Aii interpreters may also draw data from the existing on-site scientific observatory instruments (eg. scientific standards such as laser scanners, ‘acoustic observatory’ stations, veg-change cameras & carbon sequestration soil/air probes), and may also employ an analog material palette of ‘lively materials’ capable of detecting & registering changes above & below the soil in colour, light, movement & growth (including absorbent flexing woods and metals, reflective materials, sensitive litmus papers, continually circulated water & seed banks) as well as networked analog sensor systems accessible remotely.
"The world is not like a computer; computers are like the world”. Computers are part of nature: They are our creations. (James Bridle, 2022).
Hence whereas the entire site is an experimental artwork – these added elements AIs + AIAs further activate the site with AIIs then encouraging further human observation and engagement.