Among humans and fireflies. (2019-2023)

Among Humans and Fireflies (2019-2023)
Collaborative action with the Entomology Laboratory of the University of Buenos Aires (Dr. Marcela Castelo, Ecology, and José Crespo). This project is currently in the research phase, having begun in 2019.
Breeding fireflies in captivity, researching their behaviour and specific corporeality.
Tracking exercises of fireflies in urban environments (first activity in November 2021 in Buenos Aires, and June 2023 in Florianopolis, Brazil).
This project has received support from the National Fund for the Arts of the Ministry of Culture of the Nation and the Metropolitan Fund for Arts and Sciences, Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2019. Images of breeding in captivity in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.

In collaboration with the Experimental Entomology Laboratory at the University of Buenos Aires, we have initiated research into ways of perpetuating the life of fireflies, a species currently threatened in the surrounding wetlands. The initial aim of the project was to restore to viewers the experience of contact with these bioluminescent beings, which many people remember as magical. To achieve this, we began by attempting to breed fireflies, particularly in the summer of 2019-2020. Entomology has rarely focused on Lampyridae, as they have no capitalist or extractive value. Since the confinement of 2020, we have had some interesting exchanges regarding the captive breeding of these beings. The scientific team wanted to continue this breeding research to better understand this species. As an artistic project, it led to other approaches that I had barely begun to explore, such as tracking fireflies in urban environments and collecting stories from different indigenous peoples about fireflies. We are currently seeking to declare a sanctuary of luminous life in collaboration with the Secretary of Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Environment to preserve this species and involve other people in this endeavour.

Dialogue with Marcela Castelo, José Crespo, and Candela Sotos regarding the conditions for the habitability of fireflies during the COVID-19 confinement in 2020.