Complex Individuality

In 'Complex Individuality', Suzette Bousema and Ingeborg Klarenberg explore the relationship between lichens and their environment. This symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae is a powerful metaphor for our interconnected world. At the Natural History Museum, Bousema and Klarenberg present a multimedia exhibition featuring photography, video, and a soundscape.

Fungi and algae in lichens are two completely different organisms that depend on each other for survival. They can do so in extreme conditions, but they are also sensitive to disturbances such as pollution and climate change. Furthermore, lichens form a habitat for other organisms, such as insects and tardigrades. All these species are interconnected.

Just like lichens, our societies are shaped by complex relationships between people and ecosystems. Disruptions in the symbiosis of lichens can have far-reaching consequences, just as disruptions in our own interconnected world can have repercussions for generations. And just as with lichens, the question arises as to what individuality means in a network of dependencies.

Suzette Bousema is an artist who focuses on how we relate to the rest of nature, in collaboration with scientists. Ingeborg Klarenberg is a scientist. Her research focuses on the impact of human activity on ecosystems. 'Complex Individuality' originated as a result of the VU Connected World Societal Impact Award, which Bousema and Klarenberg received in 2024.

'Complex Individuality – lichens by Suzette Bousema and Ingeborg Klarenberg' is on view from July 19 to October 25, 2026.