Single channel or 3 - 6 channel video pigment prints, roots of Prunus serotina, 2019 - 2022

Habitat concentrates on the difference of perception about relations with biological and technical environments. The project started as an observation of Tesla´s Gigafactory building process in Grünheide, Brandenburg.

Next to the factory is an area containing weird structures, geotextile and many uprooted trees, that proved to be black cherry (Prunus serotina). I found out, that this territory is a new artificial habitat for endangered reptiles - smooth snakes and sand lizards, some of them originating from the territory acquired by Tesla.

History of black cherry - plant native in Northern America, that was introduced in Europe as ornamental tree - brings a parallel story to the work. Its history is commented through interview with biologist Uwe Starfinger. In the 20th century Prunus serotina was widely planted in the forests for improvement of the soil and for protection against the fire. During second half of the century the tree was renamed in Netherlands as „bospest” – forest plague, because it is an invasive specie, negatively affecting biodiversity and regeneration.

Habitat is a combination of documentary footage from the area, as well from the factory opening event with staged action, rented Teslas dashcam material, drone footage, experiments of capturing the environment using photogrammetry.

The work was exhibited in group exhibition SO FUTURE, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Enschede, Netherland, 2022