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
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 2023
Interested in booking Arabidopsis Symphony for your festival or museum?
Download the PDF for more (technical) information:
PDF: Arabidopsis Symphony – Festivals + Museums
For questions, custom requests, and bookings, please visit our contact page.
Arabidopsis Symphony is made possible by:
Gemeente Arnhem
Main support & funding for project realization
Creative Industries Fund NL
Funding for internationalization
World Design Weeks
Support in internationalization
Consulate General of the Netherlands, New York
Funding for Atlanta Design Festival as part of the DutchCultureUSA program
Eindhoven Design District
Support & funding for location Eindhoven
Gemeente Eindhoven
Support & funding for location Eindhoven
Special thanks
Haus des Meeres, Vienna
Support for location at Vienna Design Week
Ponce City Market, Atlanta
Support for location at Atlanta Design Festival
Dutch Design Foundation, Eindhoven
Support for location Eindhoven
Neighborhood Committee Wilhelminaplein, Eindhoven
Support for location Eindhoven
Consulate of the Netherlands, Vienna
Support for Vienna Design Week
Consulate of the Netherlands, New York
Support for Atlanta Design Festival + Anchorage Design Week
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.