The Backpack of Wings is an artistic research project that investigates communication with non-human beings. Inspired by new tracking technologies for wildlife and earthquake myths from East Asia, the project combines current scientific research with speculative future scenarios.

© Wootton_ZKM

Since ancient times, there have been reports that animals can foresee natural disasters before humans. This assumption forms the basis for many legends and myths but is also studied in today’s science. Using mobile measurement systems, also known as telemetry systems, data is collected: animals are measured, analyzed, and tracked. This provides insights into animal behavior, also in correlation with human activities and
climatic changes.

Based on mythological traditions and scientific findings, Jeong and Yuk develop fictional scenarios: using telemetry data, natural disasters are predicted in the near future, or a network is developed in the distant future that digitally connects animals and humans: an Internet of Animals. This technology would redefine the relationship between humans and animals and the way we deal with the climate crisis and its impacts.

The whole project is presented as an multidimensional installation through several works: The film “The Backpack of Wings: Modern Mythology” depicts a near future, and a further future with the installations “Pĭlacommúnĭtas”, “Super Pĭlacommúnĭtas”, “Nephesh”, “2022 Artifact”. The workshop “The Backpack of Wings: Sensory Networks” puts the lens on one migratory bird by using the GPS data, and invites the participants to create an imaginary storytelling.