Zoop Data Fusion
(Milano Trienale and China)

Zoöp DataFusion Reimagining Multispecies Collaboration Through Sensorial ArtScience

Zoöp DataFusion is a research installation that explores how humans and non-human life forms can cohabit and collaborate within shared environments. Developed during my time at the ArtScience interfaculty master's degree, the project was featured in the Dutch Pavilion's "Have we met? Humans and Non-Humans on Common Ground" exhibition at the 23rd Triennale Milano International Exhibition and in China. The project was commissioned by Het Nieuwe Instituut.

The Zoöp DataFusion Instrument
At the heart of the project is the Zoöp DataFusion Instrument, a sophisticated array of digital and analogue sensors designed to capture a wide spectrum of environmental data. Installed in Het Nieuwe Instituut's garden since spring 2022, the instrument monitors a 30×30×3 meter space, recording:

Vibrations, Heat traces, Sound frequencies, Electromagnetic waves, Smell and spread of pollen, Conductive capacity of underground mycelia, Humidity changes

This comprehensive data collection aims to provide insights into the subtle interactions between various life forms and their environment.

Zoöp DataFusion Model
The project is grounded in the Zoöp model—short for "zoological cooperative"—which integrates the interests of non-human life into organisational decision-making processes. Each Zoöp includes a "speaker for the living," an advocate who ensures that the needs and rights of non-human entities are considered. Het Nieuwe Instituut adopted this model on April 22, 2022, reflecting a commitment to more inclusive and sustainable practices. 

Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Zoöp DataFusion is a collaborative effort involving students Philipp Groubnov, Christine Hvidt, Andrzej Konieczny, Alexander Köppel and Vivien Vuong. The project was guided by Rodrigo Delso from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid and Eric Kluitenberg from the ArtScience interfaculty. Their interdisciplinary approach bridges art, science, and technology to foster a deeper understanding of multispecies relationships. 

Visualising Interspecies Interactions
The data collected by the instrument is transformed into visual representations, including cartographies and point cloud portraits. These artworks, created by Christine Groenborg and Rodrigo Delso, offer a tangible glimpse into the complex dynamics of shared ecosystems, encouraging viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world. 

Zoöp DataFusion exemplifies how art and science can converge to promote ecological awareness and interspecies cooperation, challenging traditional perspectives and inspiring innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

Zoop Data Fusion is an installation and on-going research project, which is part of the exhibition Have we met? Humans and non-humans on common ground, organised by [Name] for the 23rd Triennale Milano Exhibition.

Have we met?
Humans and non-humans on common ground
15.7.–11.12.2022
23rd Triennale Milano Exhibition

© 2022, ArtScience Interfaculty, University of the Arts The Hague:
Philipp Groubnov, Christine Hvidt, Andrzej Konieczny, Alexander Köppel, Leon Lapa Pereira and Vivien Vuong
Guided by Rodrigo Delso (Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid) and Eric Kluitenberg (ArtScience Interfaculty).