anna andrejew

Cables are like our roots, and eventually, all data rots.

Each email and every bit of data is stored somewhere physically. Cables below, data centers above, all consuming energy, water, and soil. Our digital presence is, in essence, a physical presence.

I explore the physicality of our digital presence by treating the image as an ecosystem. By introducing decentralized authorship, ambiguity, and impermanence, the image is co-created by multiple species.

In this installation, data—represented by handmade paper—flows through three data centers, akin to cooling water. The data center closest to the wall features a sheet with soil, emphasizing its physical presence. The middle one has a white-on-white screen print of a data center, symbolizing the invisibility of our digital footprint, similar to the screen printing used in computer components. The third data center has mold growing on top, highlighting how forgotten data can decay, much like neglected photo albums. It also suggests that new opportunities may arise from interconnected approaches, such as 'fungal computing'. Above these centers, a cloud made from tree roots and cables reminds us that our technology is deeply rooted in ecology.