Modern Naturalis

Modern Naturalis is about looking at the world with wonder. Inspired by the Do-It-Yourself attitude that was rampant among early female naturalists I hacked a webcam into a microscope to explore my surroundings.

My D.I.Y forays into the microcosmic manifest as this series of collages which aim to encourage engagement with the natural world from a different perspective. The importance of observing, of looking closely and slowly, is highlighted in a new video piece (here).

By embracing my amateurism I hope to inspire others to feel confident enough to do the same. I have produced a free zine that gives advice on making your own microscopes and invites us all to consider our impact on the environment. I believe that our considerations of ecology involve technology, community and above all a willingness to explore, try, fail, learn, and inspire.

The Modern Naturalis tumblr is here
The readable zine and printable zine (double sided, short edge bind).

This project was supported by The SMART Gallery.