Plasmonika

Plasmonika is a synthetic well and an energy generator. This art installation is derived from the collective imagination surrounding technology while being inspired with scientific research of fusion physics. It is a principal element of AvantGarden Sphere3, an environment of the possible, the actual, and their mutual interplay.

Today, we face the urgent need to provide sufficient amounts of clean energy for both the growing population and industry. Fusion energy might be the real solution to many ailments of contemporary societies and a solution to many issues the human race is dealing with. Climate change, air pollution detrimental to human health and environmental damage are just a few among many crucial issues that might be addressed with meeting our energy needs through broad implementation of nuclear fusion energy generation.

The Plasmonika object implies the necessity for a dialogue about future energy production. To some, fusion energy production may still seem like a futuristic dream. To others, this idea might instill a discomfort of the “technological sublime” or skepticism about seemingly unreachable goals.

The installation opens up a space for conceptual thought about the world of tomorrow in which our needs are met through technological processes with less negative impact and more in tune with the planet and human health. Through Plasmonika, we are invited to freely imagine such achievements for the future and envision how powerful ideas that may sound like science fiction can come to life.

Central fountain within the installation’s virtual world, as a futuristic construction, is imagined in a way that one of its elements produces energy through the implementation of plasma while plasma-treated water runs through the system. It enables us to dream about easier access to energy and meditate on potential future uses of plasma.

The Plasmonika object itself also refers to the Rod of Asclepius, a motive appearing throughout contemporary culture, art history and mythology as a universal symbol of health. Inspired by the rod of Asclepius adorned with the medical serpent, the object accentuates the necessary precision in controlling the technologies we develop and implement. As with any other “medicament”, the dosage and treatment determine the benefits and risks. In most areas of applied technology a similar rule can remind us that the technology itself is not a threat, but a powerful tool in our hands.