Event
Liked, trapped, shared — Digital meetings with biodiversity
Sign upDigital technologies are also transforming the way we relate to nature. On social media and online platforms, biodiversity is continuously being documented through photographs, classifications, and discussions that reflect and create a new level of mediation between humans and the natural world.
“Liked, Trapped, Shared – Digital Meetings with Biodiversity” curated by Milan Polytechnic’s Design Density Lab will be in the MEET Galleries from Feb. 25 to March 9, 2025. The exhibition offers a critical lens on how the digital shapes our perceptions of and relationships with the nonhuman world. Photographs, comments, social shares, and online commercialization processes generate complex dynamics: on the one hand, power imbalances are amplified; on the other, opportunities open up for building spaces of care and awareness.
Eight works, one reflection
The exhibition is the result of interdisciplinary research involving more than 50 students from the Communication Design course. Eight works that rework both textual and visual materials from the web and the invisible dynamics of the web and reflect on the material and symbolic conditions of digital interactions between humans and non-humans.
“Handling Parakeet”
Handling Parakeet is an interactive installation on the connection between humans and monk and collared parakeets in Italian cities. Through 885 online sales ads, it becomes clear how digital commerce has contributed to their spread, told through images of hands interacting with the birds. The hand becomes symbolic of this relationship, revealing how these animals are perceived and treated.
“The Inventory of Bird Objects.”
This project reflects on the coexistence between humans and seven bird species such as pigeons, starlings, gulls, cranes, herons, crows, and imperial ravens. Through analysis of 466 online news articles, 75 objects were selected that tell the story of human behaviors toward these animals, how conflicts are dealt with, and strategies adopted to manage their presence in cities. The objects will be physically displayed and accompanied by a catalog.
“Tree of Heaven or Hell?”
“Tree of Heaven or Hell?” goes to the heart of the debate about Ailanthus altissima, or the Tree of Heaven. A species that, while admired for its resilience, threatens ecosystems and infrastructure, challenging our control over nature. You will explore how this plant becomes a symbol of a broader conflict between humans and the environment. An opportunity to reflect on the challenges of living with what is beyond our control.
“My Belles”
An installation celebrating the deep connection with indoor plants. No longer mere decorations, but true companions that enrich our homes and connections with nature. The work recreates a living ecosystem, where each plant will have its own dimension to reflect on the affection and stories that surround them.
“Beyond the Squirrel”
“Beyond the Squirrel” investigates the impact of invasive species on ecosystems. The spread of North American gray squirrels, introduced to Italy in the 1940s, is threatening the survival of red squirrels, a native species. Larger, adaptable and carrying a lethal virus, gray squirrels compete with red squirrels for food resources, altering the natural balance. The presence of an invasive species transforms not only nature, but also human social and cultural dynamics.
“Digital Forest”
“Digital Forest” explores how wildlife is transformed into digital entities through phototrap videos. These tools, once used for wildlife monitoring, have become a virtual window into an ecosystem that is constantly evolving on social media. Animals, now protagonists of a digital world, challenge our perception of nature and invite reflection on our relationship with the environment and technology.
“Green Visions”
“Green Visions” explores how green color, integrated into architectural design, transforms urban spaces, making them more appealing and livable. By analyzing renderings, the work reveals how natural elements distort the perception of buildings.
With the catalogs “Peel the Green,” in which greenery is replaced by AI-generated elements, and “Reveal the Green,” which explores the role of greenery divided into ten categories, it becomes evident how it influences architectural designs and redesigns cities.
“Let Them Eat Blue Crab”
The ecological emergency related to the spread of the Blue Crab in the Mediterranean threatens biodiversity and the local economy. With a visual overview, the installation shows the devastating impact of this invasive species on seagrass beds and native shellfish, suggesting an alternative vision.
The exhibition was created with the support of the National Biodiversity Future Center, in collaboration with the Milan Polytechnic University. A project that combines design, technology and ecological sensitivity to address contemporary challenges awaits you at MEET from February 25 to March 9, 2025.
A journey that begins during the opening
The opening of the exhibition is Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.
The event is free with prior reservation.
