Dutch multimedia artist Thijs Biersteker has created an intriguing bridge between art, nature, and technology with his project “ORIGIN”, an interactive installation on display at the Zaishui Art Museum in China. “ORIGIN” connects audiences to a living cacao tree thousands of kilometers away in Java, Indonesia, acting as a real-time digital twin powered by environmental sensors monitoring the tree’s sap flow, air quality, rainfall, and temperature.
The live data stream is transformed into a visually dramatic sculpture of pulsing lights and rhythmic movements to reflect the tree’s immediate experience, allowing museum-goers to “listen” and visualize nature’s subtle signals. As climate conditions shift in Java, the sculpture’s glowing patterns respond, offering a visceral sense of the tree’s vulnerability to environmental change.
Biersteker’s work brings urgency and empathy to the environment crisis, “ORIGIN” makes every heartbeat of the tree locally tangible—visualizing the fragile journey from cacao farm to chocolate bar.
This data-driven art form is designed to promote engagement, encouraging us to empathize with the natural world whilst reminding us that every choice impacts ecosystems far beyond our immediate vision.
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