2023-2024
PMMA optical fiber, LEDs, silicone, acrylic, epoxy, aluminum, stainless steel, steel, brass, motors and microcontrollers
117.2 x 67.3 x 67.9 cm
Winsing Arts Collection

2023-2024
PMMA optical fiber, LEDs, silicone, acrylic, epoxy, aluminum, stainless steel, steel, brass, motors and microcontrollers
117.2 x 67.3 x 67.9 cm
Winsing Arts Collection
Anicka Yi’s “Radiolaria” resemble giant living cells, seemingly pulled from the ocean and left suspended, gently undulating through the gallery space. Waves of light flicker along the delicately woven fiber optic surface, revealing their mechanical makeup. These “bio-techno” lifeforms reflect Yi’s notion of the “biologized machine,” a means for imagining communication between artificial intelligences and organic lifeforms.
Radiolaria are single-celled zooplankton that first emerged during the Cambrian period, about 500 million years ago. Known for their intricate glass-like shells, there are over 15,000 species of these protozoans. Each animatronic radiolaria sculpture embodies a distinct “species,” showcasing unique movements: one curls its tentacles in rhythmic motion, while another appears to “breathe,” expanding its accordion-like segments. Pulsing light and shimmering vibrations evoke heartbeats, blurring the boundary between the organic and the artificial.
The delicate balance of the Earth’s oxygen and carbon cycles, sustained by radiolaria, forms what poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs calls the “preconditions for our breathing,” emphasizing thedeep connection between ancient lifeforms and the air we breathe today.
