Photo by Museum MACAN’s Documentation
The pandemic has shifted the approach of the children’s art space to be more technologically connected.
Museum MACAN announced a new work for the children’s art space at the end of 2021, giving birth to an interactive and fun learning process. In collaboration with the UOB Commission, Museum MACAN selected Tromarama, a collective group of artists from Bandung, for their project The Lost Jungle. Children and families can enjoy a hybrid experience that includes both physical and online installations that have been specially designed to allow children to imagine the current state of forests.
Children and families are invited to enter this interactive multimedia installation and experience a live, virtual jungle simulation, including cloud formations, rain intensity, breezes through the trees, and the movement of the creatures living in the jungle – all of which are influenced by the current weather in Jakarta and gathered in real time from publicly accessible data.
Visitors on this journey may come across some strange and fantastic creatures created by children at home. This hybrid experience allows people from all over the world to log on to The Lost Jungle website and create new creatures inspired by the real patterns, shapes, and colours of endangered animals.
The artists have collaborated with biologists to research the relationship between humans, the natural environment, and technology to create The Lost Jungle. Human activities have had a significant impact on the earth’s biodiversity and ecology and, while technology allows us to stay connected, can we use it to be more conscious of our impact on the planet?
“We live in a human-centric era in which our actions have a negative impact on natural ecosystems and the environment. It is critical that we become more aware of and understand the consequences of our actions on the future of this planet,” said Aaron Seto, Director of the Museum MACAN, during The Lost Jungle‘s virtual press conference. Tromarama’s The Lost Jungle is intended to inspire children and families to think about their impact on the environment.
This special project envisions a relationship between humans and nature mediated by digital technology, and it teaches children not only how to build a deep connection with nature, but also how to raise their awareness of the earth’s sustainability and future.
Along with The Lost Jungle, Museum MACAN features another work, 40ºC Fable (2021), in which animations on screens respond to visitors as they move through the gallery.
Visitors can still visit Museum MACAN in Jakarta until May 15, 2022, to explore this virtual jungle and discover imaginary creatures inspired by real animals. You can also enjoy the experience of creating new creatures at home and sending them to the museum’s website, www.museummacan.org, to be seen live in the gallery.
