The emergence of life likely involved numerous trial-and-error scenarios. Evolution itself may have begun and failed multiple times before achieving a balance with the environment and eventually reaching stability. From an artistic perspective, this concept of a ‘trial-and-error origin’ presents a fascinating theme worth exploring. Fossils serve as imprints of deep time, allowing us to trace the fickle course of evolution over immense spans of history. Fossils are naturally sculpted memories of deeptime.
Every AI-fossil generated for this project is a result of ‘artificial evolution’. The evolution of these AI-fossils reflect adaptations to climate crisis. Fragments of electronics or fossilised plastics are visible in the artificial fossils. Fossilised plastics, known as plastiglomerates or plastistones, have unfortunately already become part of our fossil record today.
The fossils will be milled into soapstone and 3D printed. Soapstone is a type of metamorphic rock. Most soapstone deposits were formed from 300 to 400 million years ago, and they can be found throughout the world. The 3D printed fossils are hand painted.