Exhibition

“Each piece of rock has a story to tell.”

My proposal has 3 sections, past, present, and future.

Past

In past portion of the work, I want to create a story of the geologic time scale, told through actual pieces of rocks and sediments (preferably found near Venice), accompanied by multisensory experiences (light, generative images, temperature, and sound). Viewers of the exhibit will be able to navigate through the geologic time scale by interacting with the sample rocks and sediments. There will be sensors to detect these interactions.

This multisensory experience will involve one object from each section of the GTS. there will be accompanying computer-generated abstract graphics with sounds and temperature changes associated with the conditions of the time period.

Story of rocks and geologic time will be superimposed with the story of evolution of life and its effects on the earth's temperature and atmosphere (ex: the rise of photosynthetic bacteria led to emission of oxygen in the atmosphere which led to the rise of the life we know). With this, the geologic time scale will act as a medium to tell the story of the earth's climate, its fragility, and resilience.

Present

This will then be followed by the present which will talk about the rapid changes in earth's atmosphere and temperature during the Anthropocene era. Here the rock and sediment samples will be interspersed with fragments of found manmade objects and materials collected in and around Venice.

Future

Future section of the exhibit will utilize data from scientific climate projections to create an experiential fictional future scenario. In place of rocks, there will be composite objects made with plastic, electronics, and other manmade materials that will be around for generations.

Through this transition from natural rocks to synthetic composites, I want to portray the impact of the Anthropocene on the planet

Residency: Past and present portions of the exhibit will be based on scientific data from the fields of geology and sedimentology. During my time in Venice, I will collaborate with both the environmental scientists researching this part of the work. Future portion of the exhibit will utilize the knowledge from sedimentology, and speculative design approach to forecast the kind of sediments that will tell the story of our time to future generations. Research method during the residency period: - Regular conversations with both the scientists to understand their research - Developing a deeper understanding of the geologic time scale - Developing a deeper understanding of the Venice region and its history - Formal and informal interactions with residents of the region - All interactions will be documented through notes and sketches. These will be used to derive insights and can also be used in the exhibition. - Sample collection of found objects