The AntVenture project is an artistic attempt to understand how ants not only perceive themselves as “natural beings living among other” but also to speculate how an ant might come to comprehend the very essence of what it means to be human.
Both ants and humans have come to dominate the Earth through the evolution of sociality. And both can be considered “technological” in their own right, entities able to harness engineering and agricultural innovations, where individuals can extend themselves beyond their own physical limitations with “mass communication”. In short, both ants and humans are “world builders””with the ability to completely alter landscapes and develop complex meaning and “togetherness”.
However, humans and ants differ significantly in the fact that if all humans were to disappear from the planet–even with the state of our environment today–it is likely the Earth would adapt and persevere, but if ants were to disappear, it is probable that entire ecosystems would simply collapse into extinction.
AntVenture is a four part series of experiential audio dramas housed in a storytelling-walking app, told from the perspective of four different genera of common ants. These cheeky and punchy works of fiction are based in scientific research and accessed through a unique interactive choose-your-own-adventure walking mobile app.
This work is experiential because the fate of the ant in each episode is dependent on you, the listener. At various places throughout the multi-branching narrative, you are prompted to look at your mobile screen to answer the Y/N Choice Card, a question about the sensory experience you are currently having of your environment at that particular moment.
As you the AntVenture app creates for you the space–if only for a brief moment–to purposefully contemplate your surroundings reminding us all that in even the most concrete laden environments, nature–in the form and essence of an ant– is never really ever that far away.
Many talented people contributed to the AntVenture project. Fred Adam and Carlos Garcia (Spain) are the app and online development team, original music created by Emilyn Stam and John Williams (Toronto CA), the voice of the ants by Tracy Michailidis (Toronto). Script-editing by Mario el Jamal (Ottawa CA), and fact Checking by Dr. Terry McGlynn (San Diego USA). Recorded at Ken Whiteley Studios (Toronto) by Nik Tjelios.
AntVenture was researched, written, produced and narrated by David Merleau. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Participants nr: unlimited
Duration: 60 min (inclusive introduction)
Materials: mobile device/smartphone with mobile data
Meeting point: Art gallery Garagem Avenida
Meeting time: 10:30 am
