Situated in a near future, “FL0W3RS” confronts the anxiety of the Anthropocene by telling the tale of a flower who, unable to survive on earth, mutates into a cybernetic hybrid, traveling to another world. Functioning as a satellite, it sends transmissions into our realm of consciousness, warning us about earth’s imminent downfall.

Inspired by the worldbuilding of Ursula K. Le Guin, “FL0W3RS” traces an ethno-botanical map of imagined flora, linking it to future possibilities and examining its ecological survival. By taking the role of “Nature as Teacher,” these mythical plants guide us towards “collaborative survival [through] landscape modification,” as seen in Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna L. Tsing.

The flower’s glass stem represents the fragility of nature, while the petals demonstrate the resilience and adaptability of its biodiversity. Spirits inhabit these techno-floral entities, acting as a visual intoxicant, growing new gardens in hyperspace. Our position as spectator is not one of innocence, but inextricably linked to the species’ survival and of our own collective future. “FL0W3RS” presents us with a dilemma; how do we find authenticity in nature when life as we are living leads to its inevitable demise?

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

fdg. (Francesco De Gallo)’s interest in ecology and its relationship with immersive environments developed while studying Graphic Design at Cégep de Sherbrooke, and most recently as a Computation Arts student at Concordia University. His current research examines the link between nature and technology, imagining an altered future in these times of ecological distress. He uses 3D software such as Blender, TouchDesigner, and GAN generative processes to transform his art, incorporating experimental storytelling and cinematic sound design, finding beauty in earth’s hidden corners.