Event Recap: Post Ecosystem: Anthropogenic Interference

The fifth panel of the Artificial Flavor talk series, brought together Hong Kong artist Lo Lai Lai Natalie and Tokyo-based artist and curator Ryuta Aoki to discuss the “post-ecosystem”. Moderated by Lily Wong, the session challenged traditional Western-centric views of self-regulating nature, instead exploring how human interference, scientific experimentation, and labor-intensive practices create new, complex realities.

Alternative Knowledge: Farming and Wasan Mathematics

The discussion opened with both artists sharing how they look to the past and the physical world to find alternatives to modern technological optimization. Lo Lai Lai Natalie detailed her decade-long journey from being a travel journalist to a farmer-artist, a transition inspired by the 2010 social movements against the high-speed railway in Hong Kong. She described her practice as a constant shift between farming, waiting, and making—physical processes that allow her to learn through labor rather than just theory. Similarly, Ryuta Aoki introduced his work “Alternative Computations,” which revives Wasan, a lost form of 19th-century Japanese mathematics. By combining this ancient philosophy with modern quantum computing, Aoki seeks to move technology away from purely utilitarian goals toward a more cultural and cosmological appreciation of the universe.

Intervening Through Technology and Nature

The speakers explored how specific “tools” allow us to interact with invisible forces. Aoki showcased his bio-sculptures—3D-printed structures made from soil and layered using algorithms inspired by coral reef growth. These structures are designed to host microbial communities, illustrating a technology intended for “more-than-human” benefit rather than just human convenience. Natalie shared her work “The Days Before the Silent Spring,” which uses video and layered soundscapes—including bee buzzing, military helicopters, and personal interviews—to reveal the hidden tensions and interpersonal relationships between humans and the non-human beings found in the field.

Collaborative Agencies and Cross-Disciplinary Exchanges

A significant portion of the talk focused on the exchange of knowledge across different fields. Natalie discussed how her collaboration with bird watchers and research into regenerative farming helped her move beyond human-centric perspectives to understand the “intelligence” of plants and animals. Aoki reflected on working with researchers and engineers, noting that bringing technology into an artistic context often helps scientists open their minds to diverse future possibilities before a system becomes “fixed” or standardized. By moving between the real and the fictional, both artists demonstrated how art serves as a critical platform to deconstruct established systems and reimagine our interconnectedness within a changing global ecology