The Dataset’s Dream

Seeded throughout the woods of Orleans House Gallery, The Dataset’s Dream is an unguided dusk experience featuring a series of illuminated glass ‘casket-cocoons’ encountered while listening to spoken word audio through headsets. 

What happens when we turn nature into data? If data could talk, what would it say to us in this time of declining populations of our beautiful butterflies and moths? If it could dream, what worlds and visions would it conjure?  

In a winter-dark Twickenham wood, the UK’s butterfly and moth database is having its first dream. Encounter this curious, sorrow-full, hope-full, data-full installation by artist Bryony Ella and poet Thomas Sharp, created in collaboration with researchers at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.  

Poetic narrative and illuminated glass caskets guide us on a journey into the world of big data, exploring the importance of both cataloging the natural world and of touching it with our imaginations. 

Book tickets here: Book now 

Audiences are requested to bring mobile phones and headphones to experience the audio.

UKCEH’s DECIDE Project is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, through the Constructing a Digital Environment Strategic Priorities Fund. DECIDE is a multi-partner project led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology with University of York, Open University, University of Warwick, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Butterfly Conservation, North & East Yorkshire Environmental Records Centre and Greenspace Information for Greater London. 

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is an independent not-for-profit research institute, with a long history of investigating, monitoring, and modelling environmental change. UKCEH scientists provide the data and insights that researchers, governments, and businesses need to create a productive, resilient and healthy environment. 

Dataset’s Dream takes place as part of the winter season at Orleans House Gallery, with the Winter Late, Christmas Shopping Weekend and Winter Show all taking place across 2 – 4 December