Bedrohung / Zagrożenie / Menace

ZAK Centre for Contemporary Art in Berlin

ORCH’IDEA Premieres in Berlin

Developed within the framework of the SPIN-FERT, the immersive interactive installation ORCH’IDEA demonstrates how artistic research can communicate complex scientific and environmental challenges to broad public audiences. Created by Joanna Hoffmann (FASSF-ASN)  in collaboration with Andre Bartetzki (sound, light, programming) and Norberto Hernandez (programming), ORCH’IDEA transforms the delicate life cycle of an imaginative orchid into a collective interactive journey. Participants cooperate to guide the orchid through three essential stages—nutrition, energy acquisition, and pollination—experiencing first-hand the interdependence between plants, soil microorganisms, insects, climate, and human actions.

Rather than presenting ecological challenges as abstract scientific concepts, ORCH’IDEA enables visitors to experience how healthy ecosystems depend on cooperation and to illustrate the risks posed by soil degradation, climate change, and the loss of ecosystem services.

By combining interactive technologies, immersive audiovisual environments, and scientific knowledge, ORCH’IDEA exemplifies SPIN-FERT’s commitment to innovative science communication and public engagement. The installation encourages visitors to reflect on how sustainable soil management contributes not only to agricultural productivity but also to the resilience of entire ecosystems.

Presented within the international exhibition Bedrohung / Zagrożenie / Menace, ORCH’IDEA reaches audiences beyond the scientific community, fostering dialogue between research, art, and society. The exhibition explores contemporary threats facing humanity and the environment, providing an ideal context for communicating the goals of the Mission Soil initiative and the importance of protecting Europe’s soils.

Through ORCH’IDEA, SPIN-FERT demonstrates how artistic practice can strengthen public understanding of soil health, stimulate environmental awareness, and inspire collective responsibility for a more sustainable future.

ORCHIDEA website: https://artscience-node.com/orchid/

Created by ASN