Microe-Polis: an animated micro-system under our feet

A deep dive into the intricate systems, relations and roles of plants, microbes and humans.

Process

This Elective started with an overview of understanding systems. It was followed-up by showcasing documentaries and maps as sources of visual inspiration. Alberto explained us various systems and parts of what make a system. Direct/ Indirect relations, feedback, loops, cause and effect, boundaries, layered narratives, etc. Later we too were encouraged to observe systems and relations in our own surroundings and draw them.

Theory- Inspirations- Application- it ticked all the 3 boxes.

Initially, I chose 'Sugar' as my topic as it is something I deal with it on a daily basis and wanted to know about in the context of food habits, marketing and health effects. However, I soon realized that the topic wouldn't be as exciting as choosing a topic that I knew very little or nothing about.

That's when Alberto directed me on book named Entangled Life. As it was (not yet) available in the library, I searched for other sources on the topic of fungi (See References). I was amazed at what I found initially and it further expanded the boundary of my research. There exists a super intricate system of functional relations right beneath our feet!!

As Da Vinci once said, „We know more about the planets than what is beneath our feet“

Did you know that plants and trees can communicate with each other, share nutrients with other plants or ever warn each other of any impending danger? They do that with mycelium (add more description from the book)

The 3 main components of my topic are plants (any and all in general), humans (of course us) and microbes (name the players)-- show the connections map. There are insects and other arthropods that affect the nature of the soil, which have been excluded for now.

The common elements overlapping all 3 components is Nitrogen and Carbon. This systems map focuses on Nitrogen.

Why? Plant and humans cannot readily absorb atmospheric nitrogen and we need it as a building block for protein. The bacteria and fungi convert atmospheric Nitrogen to ammonia and nitrates. They exchange it with plants for carbon, sugars, oxygen, etc.

Plants, humans and animals need Nitrogen as an essential building block of proteins and DNA. Plants get it directly from the microbes; animals get it from plants and other insects; and Humans get it from plants and animals.

The plants, microbes and animals have a well-established synergetically sustainable system through various exchanges. Protection, Dependency, Survival. Some are mutually beneficial and some harmful. Overall, each plays their part that nurtures the ecosystem. And what have we done?

Humans have only 'taken' and added a 'burden' to the existing system.

Someone once rightly said, 'The Earth doesn't need Humans for its flourishing survival. But we need Earth for ours.'

Despite various sustainable alternates, solutions, technical and industrial advancement; we haven't been available to adapt or maintain a mutually beneficial relationships with our eco-system. Therefore, the 2nd revised diagram rightly places the human at the bottom.

Initial exercise to observe Smaller systems.jpg

Observing a Railway station, stating questions.jpg

A page was too small to chart my ideas 1.jpg

Drawing larger connections and relations of various players.jpg

the classroom was too small for visualizing my ideas.jpg

Microe-Polis: The Fascinating World Beneath our Feet

Welcome to Microe-Polis. A visual representation of the world that we don't or very seldom see. The bacteria and fungi are humanized to show their hard work, perils and the relationships they maintain. Their roles are animated with sophisticated gadgets, dramatic actions and supported with informative text about their importance and impacts.

I shall let the map do the talking. Presenting some of my favorite scenarios from the map.

Have you seen the poster yet? Do let me know, preferably in-person or in the comments, your feedback and suggestions. You may also click your favorite scenario or character from the map and share it with me.

Except for a 'Begin here' flag, the map does not follow a specific structure or diagram but rather invites the viewer to find their own narratives and connections. In the end, everything is connected.

zoOmsday, framing and observtions

Have you ever seen a cloth or chalk/ pen-strokes or blade of grass or a leaf through the magnifying glass? It is just marvelous to look at everyday things in detail! The zooming-in exercise was by far the best class I have had in MAID.

In Tierpark, we looked at and illustrated an object of our choice in 2 ways: 1) the way we 'see' it; without any equipment and 2) what we 'observe' when we use the magnifying glass on the same object. The results were fascinating. There is a whole different world of details, landscapes, textures and structures on a small rock picked up from the ground.

It has opened up a new perspective for me, to indulge my senses and imaginations by looking at the simplest of objects and life around me.

I managed to see a bug using the glass and oh boy! it was scary and beautiful at the same time.

Additionally, we had 2 Framing sessions; where we framed a part of the surrounding and then observed its systems and made connections of their relations.

The purpose of these exercises was to observe (meta) systems, that exist all around us (within other systems) and to develop the ability to zoom-into and also zoom-out of certain areas of systems while researching about our topics of interest.

Conclusions

I thoroughly enjoyed this Elective. It was very well planned & structured. I loved that the students were encouraged to share their project progress and also give feedback on each others ideas.

I learnt to look at, interpret, understand and represent systems through research, making connections and visualizing the intricate relations. I never expected the output to be an illustrated map of this nature.

The learnings from this elective were very practical as well as experimental, giving scope for design interventions and recognizing patterns/ relations of a system. The knowledge I have gained here will stay with me for a long time to come.

Thank you so much Alberto!