AM I A SYSTEM? WHERE ARE MY BOUNDARIES?
- Series of Scenographic Studies Part I - SENSING LIVING SYSTEMS
Artists
Date, Location
- 2023, Universität für angewandte Kunst in Wien, Wien, Österreich, Postsparkasse, Wien, Austria (SLS-Kabine Kassenhalle, Angewandte Interdisciplinary Lab)
Keywords
Systems, Systems Science, Artistic Research, Systems Awareness, Sensing Living Systems, Soil, SDGs, Sustainability, Soundscape, Installation
Description
AM I A SYSTEM? WHERE ARE MY BOUNDARIES?, Soil, natural and man-made artefacts, soundscape, MUELLER-DIVJAK (Jeanette Müller & Paul Divjak) October – December 2023, Art Cabin, Angewandte Interdisciplinary Lab At first glance, a simple mound of soil marked by a taped rectangle sits at the heart of this installation. But AM I A SYSTEM? WHERE ARE MY BOUNDARIES?, the first part of the Series of Scenographic Studies by MUELLER-DIVJAK, is anything but static. Over time, it transformed - seeds sprouted, plants grew, some withered, and others intertwined with artificial remnants. The installation raises fundamental questions about the perception of systems and their shifting boundaries: Where does one system end and another begin? How do natural and artificial elements merge and influence each other? A closer look reveals a mix of organic and synthetic materials: shells, branches, grass, and seeds blend with plastic waste, including bottle caps, nets, and packaging materials. The plastic, collected by the artists over years of travel in Southeast Asia, is embedded within the soil, reflecting on the entanglement of human-made and natural environments. Displayed from October to December 2023 in the Art Cabin at the Angewandte Interdisciplinary Lab, the installation was designed to evolve over time. As nature took its course, the boundaries between elements blurred, mirroring the ever-changing relationships within complex systems. Visitors were not just observers but participants. They were invited to touch the soil, water the plants, remove or add artifacts, and engage with the work by scanning a QR code that led to reflective questions on system boundaries. Through these interactions, the installation became a space of exchange, transformation, and realization - a living system shaped by both its environment and its visitors. The impact of the work extended beyond its physical components. It challenged the notion of fixed systems, illustrating how boundaries shift, dissolve, and re-emerge. It encouraged visitors to reflect on their own role in shaping ecological, social, and artificial systems. The tactile and participatory nature of the piece allowed for an embodied exploration of systems thinking, fostering a deeper awareness of interconnectedness. As part of the SENSING LIVING SYSTEMS project, this scenographic study opened up a sensory and participatory dialogue about systemic perception. What happens when systems merge? What remains when they break apart? And most importantly, where do we stand within them? #SLS #SENSING LIVING SYSTEMS #FWF PEEK Projekt #MUELLER-DIVJAK Jeanette Müller, Paul Divjak, Alexandra Graupner, Anna-Maria Irgang
Material, Format
Soil, natural & man-made artefacts
Locations
Addresses
- Universität für angewandte Kunst in Wien, Wien, Österreich
- Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz 2
- 1010 Wien
- Österreich
- Postsparkasse, Wien, Austria
- Wien
- Austria
Associated Media Files
Image#1- Image#2
- Image#3
