Artwork title : snail trail

The painting is a biological record of interspecies interaction. It is the result of foraging by land snails (Cepaea nemoralis) on a canvas spontaneously colonized by aerophytic algae (Pleurococcus vulgaris).

Placed in a forest environment for three years, the polymer-coated fabric became a feeding ground. Snails, scraping the algae with their radula (a chitinous "brush" in their throat), left specific linear traces. The regular "meanders" are the record of the snail's body turning left and right, while the density of the mesh reflects the activity of multiple generations. The brightest traces date back to the final phase of this 30-month recording process.

This work is the first direct use of snail activity in my painting process, preceded by 15 years of research. Alarmingly, during this period, I observed a decline in snail activity and algae expansion—likely due to atmospheric water loss. This canvas is not just an image; it is a testament to a disappearing micro-world dependent on dew and mist. Let us hurry to love snails, even if they depart slowly.