G. Behrouznia and D. Peysson's 'Phylogenèse inverse' at iMAL

The exhibition 'Chronicles from a Near Future' at iMAL in Brussels, curated by Ana Ascencio, features two major installations, including 'Phylogenèse inverse' by Golnaz Behrouznia and Dominique Peysson. Created in March 2022 for the Canal Connect festival in Madrid, the installation explores the concept of 'inverse phylogeny'—imagining organisms that revert to earlier evolutionary stages across generations. It combines sculptural objects in vitrines with detailed cartels, adopting a museum-like presentation while drawing on scientific imagination. The work references the jellyfish Turritopsis nutricula, which can reverse its aging, and the Burgess Shale fossils from Canada, over 500 million years old, to evoke the diversity of extinct life forms. The installation invites viewers to reconsider evolution and progress, blending art and science. It includes contributions from scenographer Rémi Boulnois and sound designer Florent Colautti. The exhibition runs until September 25, 2022.