JRC makers-in-residence programme : fluxfoliage : pollination in a robotic era

Dewi Brunet's project, "FluxFoliage - pollination in a robotic era" merges art, science, and technology to raise awareness about pollinator decline, specifically within the context of the EU's Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Pollinators Initiative. Created during the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) Makers-in-Residence program, the project focus is on biodiversity, using pollinators as a focal point to highlight ecological interdependence and the critical role of pollinators in sustaining ecosystems. The project combines folding techniques with low-tech electronic components and 3D printing to construct bio-inspired folded robots,"Oribotics", creating interactive art that emphasises the delicate balance between technology and nature. Drawing on ecological philosophy, "FluxFoliage" seeks to evoke a deeper understanding of biodiversity and our dependence on pollinators like bumblebees, especially for crops that rely on buzz pollination (e.g., tomatoes). Through sensor-activated kinetic displays that mimic pollination movements, the artwork invites viewers to consider the limits of technology in agriculture and to question the sustainability of attempts to replace natural pollination. The prototype uses everyday electronics, such as LEDs and fiber optics, along with carefully crafted folding techniques to replicate the anatomy of pollinator-dependent flowers. The piece becomes interactive as users engage with touch-sensitive sensors, causing the artwork to vibrate and emit light, simulating pollination in action. By open-sourcing the documentation, the artist aims to enable others to recreate the project, fostering wider discourse on pollinator dependency, conservation, and the ecological crisis.