David Koh

In the Anthropocene, the age of human influence, we must rethink our relationship with nature. The human footprint is clearly visible on nature despite our attempts to erase it – the reality is that we are almost beyond a point of no return and “nature” now firmly involves "us" humans and our byproducts.

This project is a 3D digital garden created using VR and 3D modeling tools. The digital plants are textured with images of human influence – images of pollution, electronic waste, plastic build-ups. And within the garden are screen-like objects displaying videos that describe both human influence as well as the "sadistic admiration" of nature – how humans have turned nature into a spectacle through practices such as tourism in a false attempt to forget our influence upon the environment.

We try to keep the picture of nature pristine, free from human influence. But in this new now, we find plastic at the deepest parts of the ocean, in the furthest corner of the rainforests. Influenced by object-oriented ontology and theory by Timothy Morton, "Digital Garden" tries to envision this reality of nature and human influence combined:

“Putting something called Nature on a pedestal and admiring it from afar does for the environment what patriarchy does for the figure of Woman. It is paradoxical act of sadistic admiration.”

- Timothy Morton

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