Silicon and Soil (2026)

Silicon & Soil (S&S) invites travelers to contemplate their journeys and the swift expansion of digital pathways that connect our global community. The installation emphasizes that human mobility and information exchange are fundamental to our experiences, yet are rooted in natural earth elements. It features a visual illusion centered on themes of accelerationism and the concept that “We have captured the lightning in a rock and taught it to think.” S&S presents a multi-sensory narrative set in one of the most active transit hubs worldwide, where people, goods, and ideas converge from around the world. It utilizes generative AI to examine how the natural environment underpins essential routes for the dissemination of knowledge and commerce. 3D printed forms emerge and synchronize behind the projection, symbolically linking physical structures with electronic communication to remind travelers of our reliance on Earth’s elements that facilitate access to distant lands. Guided by the principles of forced perspective, Silicon & Soil immerses viewers in a viewpoint that mirrors the aspirations and hallucinations of artificial intelligence. It encourages us to look beyond surface appearances and recognize the organic and inorganic factors that connect our divides, providing a space for reflection on the elements shaping our contemporary world.