‘technosphere rehousing’ flourishes in post-human era amidst the remnants of civilization

Rehousing Technosphere by Wang & Soderstrom

For this year’s Mindcraft project, Anny Wang and Tim Soderstrom have created Rehousing Technosphere, an exploration of an adaptive environment set in a distant future. Their project presents a 3D animated world with rich textures and vivid colors, depicting a symbiosis between organic and technological elements. The landscape is both unfamiliar and recognizable, reflecting the intersection of digital and physical realms in our current era. Rehousing Technosphere introduces a nuanced concept of life, blending visuals and sound to inspire curiosity and introspection in the viewer.‘Working at the intersection of physical and digital realms allows us to examine and understand the implications for humans and our planet as technology becomes increasingly intertwined with our lives,’  the duo shares with designboom.

Delving into the post-human landscape

Rehousing Technosphere originated from a broader exhibition and later book by Wang & Soderstrom (see more here) named ‘Royal Chambers – Home as Host, Host as Home’. The exhibition featured five works that explored the Earth’s role as a host for humans and countless other life-forms, while also considering our bodies as hosts for numerous microbes and bacteria. Through Rehousing Technosphere, the artists examine the physical and technological remnants left behind by humans, speculating on the potential adaptations and evolutions of life on Earth once we are no longer present. Collaborating with sound artist Samad Bougalam, their 3D animated film pays homage to the underwater fauna documentaries of French filmmaker Jean Painleve, capturing the poetic movement of interacting life-forms. The film portrays a post-human landscape where living organisms repurpose the remains of human-centric society, creating a visually dynamic environment characterized by constant change. 

an immersive 3D animated world blending organic and technological elements

‘The film takes us to Earth in the distant future. It offers glimpses into how life forms adapt to a new planetary ecology in the crust of what we humans and our synthetic materials create today, the so-called technosphere, whether we do a small object and image, a furniture piece and animation or a spatial installation, our work is almost always digital natives.’ explained the designers. ‘We try to challenge what the digital can be and what it can look like. We believe there is a lot of unexplored potential within the digital world and we hope by using these tools we can also be part of shaping them.’

a glimpse into a future where adaptation is paramount

Exploration of Interconnectedness

Based in a studio nestled between the sea and Copenhagen’s southern cityscape, Wang & Soderstrom blends the realms of the human body and nature, as well as the tangible and digital worlds. Their creative process involves a dynamic interplay between physical and digital mediums, aiming to infuse their work with a palpable sensuality. Through a fusion of nature and technology, they explore the interconnectedness of the body, our senses, and the environment. Animation breathes life into their abstract concepts, imbuing them with movement, light, and gravity, while 3D printing technology materializes their digital concepts into physical forms, drawing from their background in design and architecture. By challenging the conventional division between physical and digital, Wang & Soderstrom highlight the potential for each to enrich and complement the other. ‘We believe technology is part of nature. And nature is full of small and large networks that could provide us with clues and keys to help us navigate in a world in which the digital is evolving into something as complex as life itself’

portrait of Anny Wang and Tim Soderstrom at the Mindcraft Project 2023 physical exhibition, image © designboom

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project info:

name: Rehousing Technosphere

designers: Anny Wang and Tim Soderstrom (Wang & Soderstrom) | @wangsoderstrom

year: 2022