Xiaojing Zhang's 'pH 7.75' Turns Genetic and Ocean Data into a Living Installation
Xiaojing Zhang's installation, pH 7.75, transforms biological and oceanographic information into an engaging visual experience. Set against a dark backdrop, cyan particles represent plankton and oceanic currents, employing data mapping and generative adversarial networks (GANs) to illustrate ecological interactions. The project utilizes genetic data from twenty marine species sourced from NCBI GenBank and incorporates 83,087 data points from NOAA's World Ocean Database, covering the years 1850 to 2100, in relation to the IPCC's SSP2-4.5 emissions scenario. Zhang depicts pH 7.75 as a prediction of ocean conditions in 2100, which will impact coral calcification and marine food webs, drawing on the theories of Rosi Braidotti, Bruno Latour, Timothy Morton, and Jane Bennett to highlight complexity and sensory perception.
Key facts
- pH 7.75 is an installation by Xiaojing Zhang that uses generative systems to visualize ecological data.
- The work incorporates genetic data from twenty marine organisms sourced from NCBI GenBank.
- It uses 83,087 measurements from NOAA's World Ocean Database, including temperature, salinity, oxygen, CO₂, and pH.
- Ocean data spans from 1850 to 2100, following the IPCC's SSP2-4.5 scenario.
- pH 7.75 is presented as a projected ocean condition in 2100, with serious consequences for coral calcification and marine food webs.
- Xiaojing describes herself as a translator rather than an activist or scientist.
- The work engages with theories by Rosi Braidotti, Bruno Latour, Timothy Morton, and Jane Bennett.
- The installation distributes agency across data, algorithms, biological processes, and viewers.
Entities
Artists
- Xiaojing Zhang
- Rosi Braidotti
- Bruno Latour
- Timothy Morton
- Jane Bennett
Institutions
- NCBI GenBank
- National Institutes of Health
- NOAA's World Ocean Database
- National Centers for Environmental Information
- IPCC