Nature of Neptune: Delicate Boundaries

The further the limits of our scientific knowledge are pushed, the harder it is to relate new discoveries to our everyday experiences. One frontier where this issue is most evident is in terms of scale, both large and small. When cosmologists discuss the large scale structure of the universe, or molecular biologists report on the genetic effects of certain protein molecules, the rest of us are left struggling to find any sort of subjective meaning.

New media artist Chris Sugrue brings our knowledge of the microscopic into our realm of experience through an elegant and engaging interactive installation piece. While the piece, called Delicate Boundaries, doesn't quite tackle life on the cutting-edge molecular level, it does call attention to the ways that tiny single-celled organisms can interact with the human body. Delicate Boundaries consists of a computer screen, a motion sensor, and a projector. At first, a dozen or so little outlined microbial forms wiggle around the computer screen. But when a viewer extends his or her hand and touches the screen, the little forms swarm towards it. The captivating (or startling) part of the piece happens next, when the forms actually appear to jump the computer screen and flow up the viewer's arm, this time as projected light. Once on the viewer, the beautifully outlined little microbial shapes wiggle up and down his or her body.

Aside from cleverly addressing very relevant cultural issues about the boundaries between virtual space and real space, Sugrue's piece explores human interaction with microscopic life. Before the invention of the microscope, nobody knew such life existed, even though it has an enormous impact on human lives, from digesting our food to causing disease. Now, many people feel squeamish when thinking about the millions of tiny creatures crawling all over our bodies all the time, even though the vast majority of them help us live. When presented with Sugrue's delicate cartoon-like microbes "crawling" over your body, would you be captivated, repulsed, or a little of both? This is the question the piece asks that successfully relates scientific discovery with personal experience.