Tardigotchi

This artwork features two pets. One is a living microorganism, called a tardigrade, and the other is a virtual microorganism that is a caricature of the tardigrade. Both are housed in the same brass sphere. The system is configured so that feeding the virtual tardigrade also sends food and water to the real tardigrade. It is also possible to send messages via email or Facebook to warm the tardigrade’s water, and this will activate an animation that shows the virtual tardigrade sunbathing. Interaction of live and virtual tardigrade via this device forms the focus of this work.