Arabidopsis Symphony
There is more to a plant than meets the human eye
Dive into the inner world of plants
Arabidopsis Symphony uses augmented reality, music, and real-time local data to translate the invisible processes of a plant into an ever-changing immersive experience.
A collaboration with Superposition and Sander van der Krol (Wageningen University & Research).
From a plant’s perspective
In Arabidopsis Symphony, these hidden growth processes are input for an interactive experience that tells us: plants are not that different from humans after all — we are all part of the same system.
The installation is based on real-time, location-based data that is translated into augmented reality and music. Walk through a field of human-sized plants and witness — both in image and sound — how real environmental changes directly influence their growth.
Are you visiting on a sunny morning or a drizzly afternoon? The experience is unique every time and everywhere.
Meet our protagonist: the ‘Arabidopsis Thaliana’
The ‘Arabidopsis Thaliana’ is an inconspicuous plant that occurs all around the world, but grows and develops differently due to local climate, weather, and soil conditions.
Through complex adaptations in genes and hormones, the Arabidopsis Thaliana directly responds to changes in its environment (day or night, rain or sunshine). For this reason, it has become the ‘lab rat’ among plants.
Science-based
At the basis of Arabidopsis Symphony lies extensive scientific research by Sander van der Krol from Wageningen University & Research, who meticulously monitors everything that happens inside his Arabidopsis Thaliana plants.
Sander collects all this data in complicated Excel sheets that only plant physiologists can understand. Thanks to this collaboration with Fillip Studios, everyone can now gain insight into the inner life of plants.
Want to know more about this unique collaboration between art and science?
Read our in-depth article: A deeper dive into Arabidopsis Symphony: Sander van der Krol about plant research
Previous and upcoming dates & locations
See when Arabidopsis Symphony travels near you (regularly updated):
Vienna Design Week | 16-25 September 2022
Atlanta Design Festival | 1-9 October 2022
Dutch Design Week | 22-30 October 2022
Official launch of the full edition
Eindhoven Design District | 31 October – 11 February 2022
Anchorage Design Week | February – September 2024
Interested in booking Arabidopsis Symphony for your festival or museum?
For questions, custom requests, and bookings, please visit our contact page.
Arabidopsis Symphony is made possible by:
Gemeente Arnhem
Creative Industries Fund NL
World Design Weeks
Consulate General of the Netherlands, New York
Eindhoven Design District
Gemeente Eindhoven
Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds
Special thanks
Haus des Meeres, Vienna
Ponce City Market, Atlanta
Dutch Design Foundation, Eindhoven
Neighborhood Committee Wilhelminaplein, Eindhoven
Consulate of the Netherlands, Vienna
Consulate of the Netherlands, New York
Origins: Bio Orchestra
Arabidopsis Symphony is the most recent outcome of our plant-based collaboration with scientist Sander van der Krol. Precursor of the project is Bio Orchestra.