The immersive fulldome installation titled “(Super)computing as an Ecosystem of Time” poses a speculative question: What if (super)computers followed biological patterns of productive time, such as acceleration, peaks, and rest, similar to those found in natural ecosystems, including humans, plants, and other species? Could this lead to healthier production for both human and non-human ecosystems? Could it disrupt the extractive use of technology?

This project explores different plant and insect species found across Italy and the UK at various times of the year and day, using the metaphor of a garden to reveal its beauty through time with the help of a custom-made computational system.

Visitors are invited to experience a conceptual computational artwork that runs live throughout the day. The appearance and productivity of the installation change based on the time of day, temperature, and sunlight data, emphasising the growing dependency of the digital realm on ecological systems, which are essential for growth and balance.

The poetic artwork seeks to spark a conversation about the future of computation from a human, non-human and planetary perspective, considering how we can learn from ecological systems to restore values of growth and production which requires time.

This experimental collaboration is partly funded by the Four Nations Fund, through @creativescots, with partners’ involvement resulting in an adaptive artwork. @studioaboveandbelow is leading the project, @cultvrlab is handling the resource aspects, and @umanesimo.artificiale guideS as international partners, while @daniele.fabris leads the spatial sound components.