Worm Signals - Fruit Series Paintings

Humans are probably the most invasive and damaging animal species to our planet’s ecology currently. One development is the creation of poor soil fertility by the killing of earthworms indirectly by the toxic agrochemicals farmers use on their crops to increase yields and marketability.

The goal of this BioArt project is to increase the awareness of the public to the ecological cost of perfect-looking vegetables, fruits, gardens, and lawns. The paintings begin by painting on fruits containing commercially available agrochemicals mixed with acrylic paint. Worms from a compost bucket are gathered and placed in diluted non-toxic food coloring. They are then put on the canvas and their movements are video recorded.

Their avoidance of the toxic chemical area is visible as they move, leaving color traces of their path. Afterward, they are returned to the compost unharmed. The process is videotaped. The accompanying video is edited and available with each painting.

This collaborative inscription with nematodes is unique and each piece singular. Generated by soil organisms responding to their environment, it provides real-time critical feedback information.