Scylla and Charybdis
Thomas and Uli Westphal, 2025
Three glass tanks are filled with water from local lakes, oceans, rivers or puddles. They are connected with infusion tubes that pass through a special microscope slide, the flow chamber. Using the principle of communicating vessels, viewers can navigate the flow of particles and lifeforms by altering the water levels by submerging their hands. The work creates a portal between our worlds, enabling viewers to not only be a spectator but become a bodily part of the aquatic microcosm.
Three glass tanks are filled with water from local lakes, oceans, rivers or puddles. They are connected with infusion tubes that pass through a special microscope slide, the flow chamber. Using the principle of communicating vessels, viewers can navigate the flow of particles and lifeforms by altering the water levels by submerging their hands. The work creates a portal between our worlds, enabling viewers to not only be a spectator but become a bodily part of the aquatic microcosm.
water samples, acrylic glass tanks, rubber gloves, microscope, camera, flow chamber, metal supports, projection, dimensions variable
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