Tierra de Diatomeas
2017
A hybrid research project where diatoms are addressed as a metaphor to establish
a dialogue by remembering historical events, tracing existing narratives and discussing
desirable futures of the land, its waters and its people.
Diatoms are microorganisms sensitive to chemical changes and are therefore used to analyse
ecological parameters such as water quality. Due to their cells silica wall, they fossilise
easily. Through their study, it is possible to analyse agrarian cycles for example marked
by the arrival of the Romans, the Industrial Revolution or livestock farming. Diatoms can be
found everywhere as they disperse easily, with their presence not limited to places where there
is or was water. Furthermore, diatoms outline a map of invasions through the study of their
migration, dispersal and propagation of different species, resulting from human activities.
The work materialised in several ways including: a living cartography of all diatoms collected,
hybrid ways of using microscopy, the rememberance of submerged towns, the construction
of tools for scientific sampling, and a replica of traditional ways of laying cobbles ahead of
the incipient architectural anesthesia.