Bioluminescent Forest: exploring future technology through bioluminescence

Fascinated by the silence and natural occurrences in nature, artists Friedrich van Schoor and Tarek Mawad spent six weeks in a forest outside of Stuttgart, Germany, conceptualising a compelling work titled Bioluminescent Forest. Inspired by the phenomenon of bioluminescence seen in the inner depths of the ocean, and in animals like jellyfish and fireflies, they wanted to recreate this effect on land. 

“A forest with glowing plants, mushrooms and trees is what we always wanted to see and where we wanted to live since we were little children. We wanted to make this ‘dream’ come true.”

Stepping away from projection mapping on static building facades, Friedrich and Tarek created animated video projections that were programmed to cast moving images of light across irregular surfaces. Personifying the forest, they accentuated its natural beauty by creating gleaming plants, luminous trees, and mushrooms glowing with colourful radiance.

The end result was a short film set to an ethereal score by composer Achim Treu, in which a verdant forest is bespattered with subtle interplays between light and shadow. The illuminated forest speaks volumes to any visitor that enters the minds of the artists through viewing Bioluminescent Forest.