Created in 2023 for the World Wide Open Studio in Taiwan, this work occupies a space dedicated to permaculture—a place whose very existence has been threatened for years by state expropriation. As an artistic micro-model, the installation reconstructs the complex web of human life while simultaneously reflecting on the ambiguities of progress, the endangerment of cultural and natural foundations, and the uncontrollable dynamics of modern societal systems. These systems depend on diverse, (legitimate) interests, human-made structures, and natural processes.

At its core lies a handcrafted beeswax heart resting on a single grain of rice—a symbol of life’s fragility and its fundamental principles. Twelve industrially manufactured glass crystals encircle this organic centerpiece, engaging in a stark dialogue that questions materiality and values. The ensemble is mounted on a pedestal made from branches and stones collected on-site during a volunteer workshop.

Surrounding this central composition are four large-scale acrylic prints depicting endangered ecosystems: coral reefs, mangrove forests, rainforests, and an image of Mars’ desert-like surface. This conceptual extension underscores the universal interconnectedness of all natural systems—within which human civilization remains embedded. The installation’s opening coincided deliberately with the summer solstice, placing it within a cosmological framework that, though beyond human control, fundamentally shapes the cyclical rhythms of our existence.

Thus, the work offers a multilayered meditation on the vulnerability of natural and cultural systems—and the responsibility inherent in their preservation.