Troika, Evolutionary Composite, 2024

2024

Medium

Silicon wafer, flint biface and perspex

Dimensions

32 × 32 cm

Status

In Gallery Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-155822

"Evolutionary Composite" (2024) is part of a series of works in which Troika focuses on salt crystals as the driving force behind certain inventions and technologies, without which human civilization would not have developed in the way we know it. In the wall works, the collective juxtaposes two objects vital for human civilization: The oldest tool of mankind – a flint hand axe and a silicon wafer – are both used in the manufacturing of computers. Salt also plays an important role in the production of both, which has been refined as a material over the course of 3.3 million years. In light of this, it seems that salt, unto itself and by its own power, has continuously driven human progress. With "Evolutionary Composite", Troika builds a bridge between the millions of years in which salt has been utilized as a tool for controlling and domesticating nature as well as changing our environment, and salt as a contributing factor to today's technological progress. At the same time, the works question the constant urge for growth, the status quo of modern life.