Cosmic Grass

As Earth’s climate warms at an unprecedented pace, scientists believe that such effects are influenced by humans and that the global scale of human activities have fundamentally changed the natural world.

In this installation, artist Matthew Sia creates a breathtaking visual metaphor of our relationship with nature. Through technology, Cosmic Grass readily responds to human presence in the room.

Emulating a plain of grass, the artwork that comprises islands of fiber optic lights allows visitors to experience their impact on this environment and, by extension, the role they can play in determining our future. Like the proverbial ripple effect, here we see how even a small action can light up the entire field.

The meditative soundscape of electronic synthesizer layers and ambient sounds from a rainforest invites further contemplation on the interconnectedness of life.