Final week to peek inside Sean Connaughty's biosphere

Europa Module 2 by Sean Connaughty

The Tales of Environmental Turbulence Exhibition at Institute on the Environment will be dismantled on Monday, January 6th. During the last two months the interest and conversation has been growing --and so has one of the exhibits. Europa Module 2, by artist and UMN art instructor Sean Connaughty, is a floating biosphere that contains a living ecosystem within a porcelain orb. Beneath the water in the Europa Module’s sealed environment are plants, soil and biota. LED lights illuminate the interior allowing for photosynthesis.

Connaughty explains that this and prior structures “reference the history of humans’ involvement with the natural world. They recall a survival-based relationship to the environment. They are reflections on human involvement with the natural world alluding to our history and our future.” While Connaughty is concerned with our relationship to the Earth, his inspiration reaches further out in the solar system.

I have long been fascinated by Jupiter’s moon Europa. It is speculated that the icy moon contains liquid water beneath its surface ice. This is where I get the title “Europa Module.” I want to inspire the imagination and in my imagination I hope that someday a much larger version of this piece could reside in the waters beneath Europa’s icy surface.

Connaughty was one of the round table speakers discussing the intersection of art and environment on November 7th along with exhibition curator and project co-leader, Roslye Ultan, project co-leaders Peter Reich and Jonee Kulman Brigham, and Lewis Gilbert Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Institute on the Environment.

Changing biospheres

Europa Module 2 by Sean Connaughty
Photo by Jonee Kulman Brigham

Europa Module 2 is an evolving work. When I was watering the exhibit in mid-December for Sean to make up for the 10 gallons that had evaporated from the tank, I noticed that one of the plants had grown right up to the viewing window with its leaves pressed against the glass as if it were as curious about the world outside the orb as the viewers were of the world inside. This plant, pushing at the boundary of its environment, made me wonder what happens to this microcosm of earth as it continues to grow after the exhibit and over time. Connaughty says that the module will continue to grow and be monitored until its next public venue. Some prior modules have been growing for up to three years.

Another world on view

Europa Module (1) by Sean Connaughty

There is another work of Connaughty's that viewers can watch as it grows over time. Europa Module 1 (or Europa Module) is a similar floating biosphere to Europa Module 2, but offers a different viewing experience. The interior of this sculpture is only viewable through wireless camera installed inside. Viewers are able to see the interior of the Europa Module via wireless camera on the internet at: http://bp0489.myfoscam.org:8091
Username: europamodule
Password: europamodule

When the viewer enters the username and password, they will become an operator of the camera. Through the controls the viewer can rotate the camera and explore this submerged ecosystem. (More than one viewer cannot control the camera at once, so if the controls do not seem to work, try back later.)

About the Artist

Sean Connaughty is a Minneapolis based multi-media artist. Sean earned his BFA in Painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1989, before completing his MFA at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2000. He is an instructor of painting and drawing at The University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University. Sean has exhibited his work internationally. Collections include the Telfair Museum in Savannah, Georgia and The Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, MN. www.seanconnaughty.com

    

Sean Connaughty is a fiscal year 2013 recipient of an Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the cultural heritage fund.