Rami Saarikorpi: Ultraviolet Reality

Ultraviolet Reality invites us to reflect on the decline of flower meadows and pollinators, climate change, and human impact on nature. In the past 20 years, 60 percent of our flying insects have disappeared; pollination is an essential part of biodiversity and functioning ecosystems. The reduction of habitats, due to the use of pesticides, affects the reproduction of pollinators and, consequently, the survival of species.

Ultraviolet Reality combines nature and technology by showcasing how the color and light properties of flowers impact their interaction with the environment. The series presents plants from two different perspectives: as seen by the human eye and in ultraviolet light, which pollinators perceive. In normal light, flowers appear familiar and beautiful to us, but ultraviolet light reveals hidden patterns, signs, and attractive colors that help insects find the flowers and carry out their crucial role as pollinators. The interactive section of Ultraviolet Reality allows adjusting the lighting to explore flowers from the pollinators' perspective by using different light spectra. This interactive experience encourages contemplation of human awareness and the limitations of our perception in understanding biodiversity.

Through this work, Saarikoski challenges us to consider our responsibility for the well-being of our planet. The work asks how we can contribute to the preservation of biodiversity. How can we establish a more sustainable and balanced relationship with our environment? The flowers in the artwork were primarily photographed in Joensuu, at Botania, the northernmost tropical butterfly garden in the world. "In the past 60 years, 97 percent of hay meadows have been lost, while in the past 20 years, 60 percent of the nation’s insect population has vanished." - David Attenborough