[EN]

Léa Boudreau, “Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde” (2022)
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“Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde” imagines three animal and plant species that would evolve beyond the Anthropocene by adapting to extreme environmental conditions. The work draws inspiration from speculative evolution to create their transformation, the challenges they have to overcome and, in the end, their successful adaptation. Their metamorphoses are based on changes already occurring in some species and some biologists’ speculations derived from past evolution: giant, colourful peppered moths living in luxuriant forests; stinky, mobile miniature trees; pollution-resistant long-legged aquatic anoles.

— [English translation: François Couture, iv-23]

“Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde” [Mini-Bestiary for the End of the World] was realized in 2022 at the composer’s studio in Montréal. It was commissioned by empreintes DIGITALes. Footsteps sound sample: Everyday Cinematic Sounds.

Sources and inspirations Cho, R. (2022, February 3). “How Climate Change Will Affect Plants.” State of the Planet. news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/01/27/how-climate-change-will-affect-plants/

Gruber, K. (n.d.). “Trees that can walk up to 20m per year.” BBC Travel. www.bbc.com/travel/article/20151207-ecuadors-mysterious-walking-trees

Joyce, C. (2011, February 17). “Toxic Avengers: Pollution Drove Fish Evolution.” www.npr.org/2011/02/17/133842089/toxic-avengers-pollution-drove-fish-evolution

Law, W., & Salick, J. (2005). “Human-induced dwarfing of Himalayan snow lotus, Saussurea laniceps (Asteraceae).” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(29), 10218–10220. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0502931102

Nguyen, M. (2021, October 20). “What will animals of the future look like? We asked 7 scientists.” Vox. www.vox.com/down-to-earth/22734772/future-animals-evolution-unexplainable

Than, K. (2021, May 4). “Why Giant Bugs Once Roamed the Earth.” Science. www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/110808-ancient-insects-bugs-giants-oxygen-animals-science?

Thompson, H. (2014, October 24). “Ten Species That Are Evolving Due to the Changing Climate.” Smithsonian Magazine. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-species-are-evolving-due-changing-climate-180953133/

Toomey, D. (2018, April 5). “Urban Darwinism: How Species Are Evolving to Survive in Cities.” Yale E360. e360.yale.edu/features/urban-darwinism-how-species-are-evolving-to-survive-in-cities

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, January 29). “Peppered moth evolution.” Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution

[FR]

Léa Boudreau, «Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde» (2022)
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«Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde» imagine trois espèces animales et végétales qui auraient évolué au-delà de l’anthropocène en s’adaptant à des conditions environnementales extrêmes. S’inspirant de l’évolution spéculative, la pièce invente leur transformation, les défis qu’elles doivent surmonter et éventuellement, leur adaptation réussie. Les métamorphoses évoquent des changements ayant déjà eu lieu chez certaines espèces ainsi que des spéculations faites par certains biologistes basées sur des évolutions du passé: des papillons nocturnes «poivrés» (peppered moths) géants et colorés vivant dans des forêts luxuriantes; des arbres miniatures puants et mobiles; des anolis aquatiques aux longues jambes résistants à la pollution.

— [iv-23]

«Mini-bestiaire pour la fin du monde» a été réalisée en 2022 au studio de la compositrice à Montréal. Elle est une commande d’empreintes DIGITALes. Échantillon de bruit de pas: Everyday Cinematic Sounds.

Sources et inspirations Cho, R. (2022, February 3). «How Climate Change Will Affect Plants.» State of the Planet. news.climate.columbia.edu/2022/01/27/how-climate-change-will-affect-plants/

Gruber, K. (n.d.). «Trees that can walk up to 20m per year.» BBC Travel. www.bbc.com/travel/article/20151207-ecuadors-mysterious-walking-trees

Joyce, C. (2011, February 17). «Toxic Avengers: Pollution Drove Fish Evolution.» www.npr.org/2011/02/17/133842089/toxic-avengers-pollution-drove-fish-evolution

Law, W., & Salick, J. (2005). «Human-induced dwarfing of Himalayan snow lotus, Saussurea laniceps (Asteraceae).» Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(29), 10218–10220. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0502931102

Nguyen, M. (2021, October 20). «What will animals of the future look like? We asked 7 scientists.» Vox. www.vox.com/down-to-earth/22734772/future-animals-evolution-unexplainable

Than, K. (2021, May 4). «Why Giant Bugs Once Roamed the Earth.» Science. www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/110808-ancient-insects-bugs-giants-oxygen-animals-science?

Thompson, H. (2014, October 24). «Ten Species That Are Evolving Due to the Changing Climate.» Smithsonian Magazine. www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-species-are-evolving-due-changing-climate-180953133/

Toomey, D. (2018, April 5). «Urban Darwinism: How Species Are Evolving to Survive in Cities.» Yale E360. e360.yale.edu/features/urban-darwinism-how-species-are-evolving-to-survive-in-cities

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, January 29). «Peppered moth evolution.» Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppered_moth_evolution