Canary in the Coal Mine, 2007-Style

Cockroaches pick up contamination and fish glow when exposed to pollution in the Biosafe Habitat, an installation exhibited by Marei Wollsberger at the Royal College of Art.

Biosafe Habitat explores people’s hopes and fears related to emerging technology within a political context.

Focusing on perceived domestic security in times of potential bioterrorist and chemical attacks, my proposal is to populate our houses with animals as biosensors, acting as an auxiliary instinct for a technology-led society.

One unnerving aside: Wollsberger drew her inspiration from coal miners who once took canaries into the mines. When the canaries died, the miners knew the air wasn't safe, and returned to the surface. But if our homes aren't safe, where can we flee to?

Related Wired articles here and here.
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Image: Marei Wollsberger*