The Artwork As A Living System
15 April, 2023

Chaired by: Alexandra Dementieva
Panelists: Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau and Dr. Elio Tuci
Moderator: Dr. Florian Zanatta

Hosted by IMAL



The intersection between biology, technology & art, and the use of biological systems and processes serve as a metaphor for the complex relationships between humans, nature and the digital world.

Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau are internationally acclaimed pioneers of interactive art. Since the early 90s, their immersive installations encourage us to explore and interact with natural environments and to participate in their simultaneous transformation in the digital space. Plants, water and lights become sensitive interfaces through which the public can create and connect with virtual environments.

Dr. Elio Tuci is a researcher in the field of artificial life, with a focus on using robotic and computational models to understand the behaviour of biological systems. He has collaborated with artists on projects that explore the intersection of art, science, and technology.

directory.unamur.be/staff/etuci


Dr. Florian Zanatta is conducting research projects on bryophytes biogeography and urban ecology. During his PhD thesis (2013-2018) at the University of Liège he developed a novel framework for dynamic ecological niche models, integrating species-specific and spatially explicit migration simulations, in order to explore bryophytes potential migration capacity through wind dispersal, in the context of climate changes. Later he worked at Meise Botanic Garden (2020-2022).

He co-founded a citizen urban ecology lab (non-profit) in Liège called "lacYme" (2021), which develops science communication and citizen-science-based research projects and activities (e.g. BioBlitzes, urban biodiversity walks…). During these collaborative events, lacYme aims at gathering scientists from different fields, naturalists, artists and citizen together around places to explore, experiment and discuss biodiversity and ecological questions, with the complementarity of these approaches.