The Pond is an interactive multimedia installation that seeks to reimagine and provide an alternate version to the diorama often seen in natural history museums. Through mimicry and speculative evolution, The Pond explores and exposes the various nuanced artificial elements often concealed in the traditional presentation of dioramas, making commentary on the exploitative notions that the diorama unintentionally conveys. Using augmented reality, large scale video projection, multi-screen video, immersive sound, a holographic display, and inkjet prints, the immersive installation mirrors the complex multi-layered artifice inherent in traditional dioramas in order to create the illusion of a pond ecosystem, populated with hybrid creatures, inviting viewers to explore the intricate interplay between human-made environments and the natural world while challenging our understanding of nature. The Pond draws inspiration from psychologist Peter H. Kahn’s essay, “The Human Relation with Nature and Technological Nature,” which explores the impact of replacing natural environments with technological ones as a response to the potential collapse of the natural world, which would lead to not only physical, but major psychological consequences. This concept, referred to by Kahn as “technological nature” describes any technologies that attempt to mediate, augment, or simulate the natural world.

The Pond premiered at the 18th edition of MOMENTA Biennale de l’image, curated by Ji-Yoon Han, between September 6th to October 21st, 2023 at OPTICA, centre d’art contemporain – this project also served as my MFA thesis exhibition (I am set to graduate in Spring 2024). I conceptualized the story, and designed all of the visual 3D components of the project (using Blender, Unreal Engine, and Zbrush) while Milo Reinhardt, Ahmed Drebika, and Teo Zamudio of the collective World Creation Studio, assisted me in the development of augmented reality (using Unreal Engine). Additionally, the musical composer Philippe Lambert, created the sound design for The Pond (Ableton), working under my direction. The project was made possible with financial support from MOMENTA Biennale de l’image and RBC Foundation’s Emerging Artist Grant.