Domenica MediatiDomenica Mediati explores the beautiful and repulsive relationship between humans and nature in her exhibition Biophobia in the SoCA Gallery. Photo by Justin Elliott.

Exhibition explores relationship between humans and nature

The bioart exhibition Biophobia now on display in the School of Creative Arts (SoCA) Gallery explores the beautiful and repulsive relationship between humans and nature through the imagined lens of a microscope.

Biophobia features the work of Domenica Mediati (BFA 2015), an emerging intermedia artist and sessional instructor in the Faculty of Education and SoCA. The video animation and installation present a new way of looking at organisms, inviting viewers to reconsider and repair their connection with nature.

“The specimens and characters featured in the exhibition were collected and inspired by the woodlands, rivers, and bodies of water in Windsor, Ontario, Canada,” says Mediati. “By confronting narratives and fears of an unseen world, Biophobia aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the intricate web of life surrounding us.”

Mediati works across painting, drawing, digital animation, and bioart practices, creating landscapes and characters that reflect and interrogate human and non-human narratives with an emphasis on microbiology.

Over the past four years, she has been a lead team member at Incubator Art Lab, where she serves as a creative and intellectual collaborator on community engagement events and leads educational outreach programming. Mediati has presented her artworks at venues in the Windsor-Detroit region, Portugal, and New Mexico.

Made possible by the support of the University of Windsor Alumni Association through the Incubator Art Lab Alumni Artist in Residency program, Biophobia is on display at the SoCA Gallery through Oct. 28.

A free public closing reception will celebrate the exhibition Thursday, Oct. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the SoCA Armouries, 37 University Ave. E. Find exhibition details and images on the gallery’s webpage.