This work from 2007 is based on the American conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth's work "Four Colors Four Words" from 1966. For Kosuth the task of art is to constantly question its own essence, in extensive analyses, to contribute to the clarification of the question of what art is. Art can then, according to Kosuth therefore not contain any statements about fact, external to art.
It was the discovery of this works, that was the starting point of "Man Conquers Nature".
"Man Conquers Nature" is constructed as a box of plexiglas. On the inside of the front part of the box a protein based nutrition solution has been applied in such a way that the solution spells out the words "MAN CONQUERS NATURE". The nutrion solution is in its original state transparent. In the solution I then planted spores of the mould species Aspergillus that for example grows on bread. The rest of the inside is painted with alcohol to prevent the mould from growing outside of the frame of nutrion. With a regular sparse application of moist, the mould developed mycelium in the nutrition solution. This made the words "MAN CONQUERS NATURE" visible.
