Homo Insectus

Sommerer, Christa & Laurent Mignonneau

Homo Insectus, 2020

Artwork text

“Homo Insectus” consists of an interactive screen and a powerful computer and is dedicated to ants. As long as people stand in front of the screen, more and more ants crawl out of a series of small holes in a concrete surface. The crowd organizes itself and depicts its counterpart in its outline as a linear black and white portrait. The lively, pulsating silhouette of the people is transformed into a temporary habitat for the insects. The behavior and survival of the digital ants depends on the behavior of the people who interact with them. The ant population is in a constant state of flux every time it moves. Insects, including ants, bees and flies, are recurring protagonists in Sommerer & Mignonneau's work, which deals with the threat to the continued existence of the insect world. “Insects are an essential element of the biosphere. However, due to pollution and the widespread use of chemicals, many insect species have gone extinct in recent years. Each insect species has an important function in the ecosystem: they are pollinators, composters, or food sources for other animals. As industrialization and human intervention threaten their world, we all need to become more aware of our impact on the insect kingdom. (…) Participants interacting with the installation can see their own bodies transformed into a habitat for artificial ants. They propagate and organize themselves into colonies and formations as long as the participants accept a sensitive dialogue with the world of the artificial creatures.” (Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau) “Homo Insectus” is an interactive installation that uses the insect world as an example to raise awareness of the fact that humans are responsible for their interaction with nature and must bear the negative consequences themselves. (Doris Leutgeb)