Franziska Beilfuß

Franziska Beilfuß: Symbionts

Derived from the Greek word sumbiōsis, meaning "living together," the term "symbiont" refers to an organism that coexists with another organism of a different species in a mutually beneficial relationship. In Symbionts, Beilfuß looks at this concept from an ontological perspective, presenting symbiosis as a fundamental principle of cooperation and interconnectedness.

Beilfuß’s handbuilt ceramic sculptures are composed of up to 13 individual parts or “symbionts,” each with its own unique, organic form. These parts, supported by rods and a steel base, come together to create unified, plant-like structures that evoke the natural world. Each form, reminiscent of vegetal growth, symbolizes the interdependence found in nature, as individual components merge and interact to become a cohesive whole or holobiont. Which part is holding which, how do they transform and grow together?

The sculptures are more than static objects; glas is fused onto the ceramic surface and creates miniature landscape- like features, that appear to be in a perpetual liquid state.

Beilfuß calls attention to the sustainable processes of coexistence that govern the natural world, urging us to recognize the profound entanglement between human life and the living environment. In doing so, she offers a hopeful vision for redefining our place in the world—one that acknowledges the critcal importance of cooperation, interdependence, and mutual flourishing.