Newbie

The exhibition “Newbie” revolves around alien quagga mussels. Originating in the Black Sea, quagga found their way into European and North American freshwaters through intensified global trade, and have been declared invasive. One of the first quagga mussels in Europe was spotted in the Danube River in 2005. Since then, the resilient mussel can be found at every depth in the river. Quagga easily adapt to different waters, rapidly spreading and densely attaching to surfaces, forming clusters that disrupt essential water infrastructure and filtration systems. In the exhibition, the artists appropriate the qualities of quagga mussels to reflect on the management of invasive species, and how it aligns with our perception of nature. The wall objects, made from ground mussels, cling to the walls bending their off-white arms to adapt to the wooden interior carvings. In the dim light, vaguely anthropomorphic shapes transition between the skeletons of unknown life forms and compact tripods. The video work depicts a retail-like environment that is gradually engulfed by quagga mussels. The futuristic sounds, brittle shell cracks, and chirping insects stretch into the exhibition room, playing out various scenarios of species set loose. supported by: BMKOES, Bundeministerium für Kunst, Kultur öffentlicher Dienst und Sport, Österreich