Interested in discussing and exploring the intermingling of non-human agency, degrees of aliveness and alien life, we started the PЯОТO-ALIEИ PЯOJECT (PЯОТO-A) in 2019. Through this project, we investigate the synthesis and use of extraterrestrial organic matter (ETOM) as an active medium for artistic purposes. We particularly focus on the morphogenetic tendencies and the non-linear behaviour of extraterrestrial material assemblages in liquids other than water.

Largely, this project is a framework, a multi-disciplinary laboratory of ideas and experiments at the intersection of astrobiology, chemistry and media art. Our aim is to use ETOM to grow soft, kinetic and autonomous agents: intelligent ʻothersʼ that thrive and avoid equilibrium on extraterrestrial environments – a new type of alien material agency, yet unknown to humankind.

C R E D I T S
Project team – Juan M. Castro, Akihiro Kubota and Taro Toyota.

In collaboration with – The Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS); Department of Information Design, Tama Art University; and The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo.