Biota: Augmenting Natural History explores the intersections of ecological conservation, natural history, and art. The term “Biota” derives from the Ancient Greek word for “life” (biotē) and signifies the flora and fauna of a given environment or period. Through the work of artist Raquel Salvatella de Prada, the exhibition surveys a wide range of endangered species, including the Red wolf, the Bog turtle, the Venus flytrap, and more. Featuring mixed-media prints based on nineteenth- and twentieth-century scientific illustrations, Salvatella de Prada mobilizes augmented reality to activate these prints with dynamic digital visuals that represent contemporary ecological threats. By placing scientific illustrations under a digital lens, the exhibition encourages our community to augment the future of endangered and threatened species.
Biota: Augmenting Natural History features the artwork of Raquel Salvatella de Prada, Associate Professor of the Practice of Art, Art History & Visual Studies at Duke University, and is co-curated by Noelle Y. Barr and Leandra-Juliet Kelley, Ph.D. students in Duke University’s Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies.
