This series of photographs of lichen and moss collected in the Azorean archipelago are printed on synthetic fabric. Lichen is a symbiotic organism composed of fungi and algae. This interspecies connection challenges us to rethink our ideas about the relationships between flora and fauna.
The lens of Microscopy offers worlds unavailable to the naked eye. Magnification reveals intricate details and layers, inviting viewers to reflect on the concept of symbiosis. The lush Azorean ecosystem, rife with rich volcanic soil and an abundance of water, is an ideal setting for interspecies dependency. Lichen absorbs nutrients and moisture directly from the atmosphere rather than a substrate and is widespread throughout the islands. Moss is vital to the ecosystem due to its direct connectivity to water and soil health. Both moss and lichen are intriguing due to their ability to “turn off” or live in a dormant state, waiting to thrive again with the return of water.
These works are an enveloping aesthetic experience. The size and concave shaping of the photographs allow an entrance into the unseen. Bright orange hair-like strands cluster together in a formerly unseen microscopic realm. Meanwhile muted green patterns and arcs seem to float in confined space. Microscopy unveils color and form becoming catalysts for growth, coexistence and connectivity.
