The environmental crisis and the destruction of habitats force us to imagine a future in which nature can be remembered in digital form. Natural history museums aim to preserve nature physically by fixing it in time and space. How might the archiving of nature evolve in a digital context - could digitalization bring us even closer to nature?

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HABITAT is a data-driven projection in which 3D scans of organic specimens—stones, corals, and fossils from the biodiversity center Naturalis—are transformed into a game-like, meditative environment. The installation reveals a series of ever-evolving digital worlds, each accompanied by its own immersive soundscape.

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The work explores the often unseen impacts of human presence on nature. By interacting with a motion-sensor sculpture, visitors can influence the piece, generating their own unique audio-visual habitat. However, HABITAT challenges conventional data-driven installations by incorporating proximity and rangefinder sensors to explore a sociological dimension. Rather than giving the viewer immediate control, the installation introduces deliberate delays in response. An action taken by one participant might lead to an unexpected visual outcome for another. At times, the interaction leaves viewers uncertain—unsure whether the changes in the environment stem from their presence or are inherent in the work itself.

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This interplay within HABITAT mirrors humanity’s relationship with the natural world, emphasizing that humans are not in complete control of nature. It reminds us that our impact on the environment is complex and often only becomes visible over time, underscoring the layered and interdependent nature of our interactions with the ecosystems around us.

 

HABITAT has been exhibited at Nxt Museum (2020-2021), Forum Groningen (2021), Sonar Istanbul (2021), Dutch Film Festival Utrecht (2021), XP Futures Riyadh (2021), Grote Kerk Breda (2022) and has been selected for a Golden Calf film award.

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The work is evolving throughout the years and morphs into different versions of the original. HABITAT is an ongoing project.

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HABITAT is a work by Heleen Blanken

Software development: Nap Labs

Sound: Stijn van Beek

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HABITAT is co-funded by Stimuleringsfonds and Stichting Stokroos and supported by Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid: Revive.