System Disintegration


Virtual sculpture
2.35m x 2.35m x 0.33m
2022



In engineering, the process of bringing together components to make a larger functioning system is called system integration. In the natural world, however, organisms die and disintegrate into simpler organic or inorganic matter.

In today’s fast-paced life permeated by technology, we seem to be lost in the immediacy technology engerders and the urgency of attention it demands. When we create devices, software and digital content, we are caught in the illusion that they assume a permanent existence. If we switch the perspective to a macro timeline, we’re instead faced with our organic nature, our mortality, the inevitable disintegration of our bodies and re-integration with nature, while the industrial objects will take much longer to go through the same process.



In this work, these realities are pieced together to invite the viewer to reflect on the legacies we leave behind, digital or physical, the meaning and significance of the ceaseless production and consumption, and our relationship with nature. Personally, these are the questions I pondered on when working in Silicon Valley producing software and services that claimed to “change the world” and “make a dent in the universe”.

The objects in the work are found on the Internet, credited below. The body fragments came from a 3D scan of my own body and the head model was sculpted.


Installation view
RESIDUE, Grey State, virtual, 2022



Credits

Terrain:
[Palmyra Terrain - Download Free 3D model by UC San Diego - Digital Media Lab (@dml-ucsdlibrary) 8a306e9 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/palmyra-terrain-8a306e98d7be43c58f9acc399bccf75a)

Grass / plants:
[Caryophyllea - Download Free 3D model by BojanBabic (@bokadigimon) 3e30178 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/caryophyllea-3e30178541d94b12b3869e153a1c0e9d)

Rocks:
[Rock 15 Rock Pack Vol.3 - Download Free 3D model by Kless Gyzen (@klessgyzen) 9b3eb23 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/rock-15-rock-pack-vol3-9b3eb23ada34426984eb717cbae61086)
[Rock 20 Rock Pack Vol.3 - Download Free 3D model by Kless Gyzen (@klessgyzen) 94c6dd4 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/rock-20-rock-pack-vol3-94c6dd4167bc43b39b6d8a0a7512b21e)
[Rock 18 Rock Pack Vol.3 - Download Free 3D model by Kless Gyzen (@klessgyzen) eee01d7 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/rock-18-rock-pack-vol3-eee01d75ff6f417182d92eca31732d47)

Cone:
[Mushroom on a Conifer cone - Download Free 3D model by jcamilophoto ca90aab - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/mushroom-on-a-conifer-cone-ca90aab55d2a4e0ab88001a174f27263)

Log:
[Aspen lumber log - Download Free 3D model by matousekfoto d791130 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/aspen-lumber-log-d791130aa0644e7394f262ff11d96616)

Shoe:
[Worn New Balance 990 - Download Free 3D model by inciprocal (@inciprocal.com) ef4766a - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/worn-new-balance-990-ef4766a9e31e4f4288b297197e0919a7)

Bottle:
[Plastic Water Bottle - Download Free 3D model by RoutineStudio (@TheRoutine) 731efe2 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/plastic-water-bottle-731efe2635c9472c9c1e4fdb1f8fbd13)

Laptop:
[Macbook Pro - Download Free 3D model by jc1245 (@jasperchui2007) a2158f4 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/macbook-pro-a2158f4d07c24861b268b170cb24c6d8)

Coral:
[Seriatopora hystrix - Download Free 3D model by The Smithsonian Institution (@Smithsonian) b6be88c - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/seriatopora-hystrix-b6be88ce19e14e5bb038918d111430d5)

iPhone:
[Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max - Download Free 3D model by DatSketch 4328dea - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/apple-iphone-13-pro-max-4328dea00e47497dbeac73c556121bc9)

Hand:
[Female hand - Download Free 3D model by deep3dstudio 3e9b8ad - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/female-hand-3e9b8ad1942048e3a267d92fb1124d46)

Flower:
[Wilted Flower Sculpt - Download Free 3D model by POLYCOSM 1355e49 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/wilted-flower-sculpt-1355e491305845bba23471735d5d0bf6)

Fossil:
[Trilobite fossil - Download Free 3D model by RISD Nature Lab (@RISDNaturelab) 05612a2 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/trilobite-fossil-05612a2132d9441999b2a5401dd110cd)

Coffee cup:
[Coffee Shop Cup - Download Free 3D model by David Zerba (@DavidZerba) 37e6805 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/coffee-shop-cup-37e6805f2b7a4158a1d61fe75f8e2a33)

Headphones:
[Headphones Skullcandy Crusher Wireless - Download Free 3D model by Ankledot 4e90201 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/headphones-skullcandy-crusher-wireless-4e902017e4624547b440da0a6658a689)

Sea shell:
[Filamentous Horse Conch - Download Free 3D model by RISD Nature Lab (@RISDNaturelab) 25f1f1f - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/filamentous-horse-conch-25f1f1ff0338408d9693ba770cbaaeb4)

Sea shel:
[Fluted Clam Shell - Download Free 3D model by RISD Nature Lab (@RISDNaturelab) 8948120 - Sketchfab](https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/fluted-clam-shell-894812026d6d42fc9d4b5c4fe28a4443)