The Dutch landscape is designed and maintained to serve the human needs. Even the animal population is highly controlled, many animals leave the ecosystem in a non-natural way, through hunting (population management) or due to car collisions. In our cultural landscape, the presence of deceased animals rarely graces our vision. Yet, within the sacred embrace of nature, death yields life, nourishing myriad flora and fauna. The nutrients from carcasses are a valuable and indispensable food source for flora and fauna, the presence of minerals can cause plants growing next to or on a carcass to become up to five times larger than their counterparts in other locations.

Through this project, we wanted to highlight the importance of death in a natural and balanced ecosystem. By experimenting with various storytelling tactics, and finding appealing ways to show death, we wanted humans to get used to seeing death in nature.

To bring this message across, we sought a way to artistically translate the subject into an accessible narrative form to introduce people to the importance of death in nature. Collaborating with ecologists, biologists, and other artists, we developed Dead and Alive, an artistic project aiming to confront viewers with reality while also showing the scientific background.

To record the process of decay and its effects, we built a research installation on the terrain of BioArt Laboratories A heptagon with 16 cameras, 14 of which were set to time-lapse mode, and two were continuously recording. The material from the 14 time-lapse cameras was used to create a 3D scan of the roe deer.

While a decaying carcass is visually striking, a 3D scan adds an additional layer of abstraction, creating a less confronting image while still effectively depicting reality and change. With the continuous cameras, we were able to analyze the carcass’s impact on the system, observing which animals are attracted to it and how quickly it is returned to nature.

The research has been translated into a modern fairy tale, narrated by the deer from the research installation. By using a non-human perspective, there is even more room to play with fantasy and reality. Additionally, it takes the viewer into another world, compelling them to reflect on themselves and their actions, and allows the story to be told in a very pronounced manner.

To present the research and story in an accessible way, we experimented with various visual techniques. The 3D scans have already been mentioned, but the harsh reality captured with continuous recordings is also showcased.

Scientific context

In the audiovisual installation, we have added as much scientific context as possible to inform the viewer. For example, there are different types of scavengers, each with a different relationship with the carcass. Obligate scavengers, such as certain insects, are entirely dependent on carrion. Birds and mice are scavengers that simply take advantage of the situation. Birds use the fur for their nests, and mice nibble on the bones to absorb calcium. We visualized this symbiotic relationship using artificial intelligence image generation by digitally blending animals with the deer.