Particulate Matter | Midge Swarm, 2025 — Dolleen Tisawii'ashii Manning

Particulate Matter | Midge Swarm, 2025

Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning, Mary Bunch, Christina Dovolis, Luka Kuplowsky & Jorge De Oliveira

Installed in close proximity, Particulate Matter and Midge Swarm juxtaposition opposing and remediating relations with water and the environment. This work asks audiences to dwell simultaneously in a thriving ecosystem and a toxic landscape, as sites of remedy and complicity in the spoils of capitalist extraction. Interacting with this terrible beauty implicates viewers in the catastrophe of modern life, as our everyday choices, needs and desires are heartbreakingly enmeshed with the enterprise of capitalism, colonialism and environmental ruin.

In “Particulate Matter” (left) a yellow cloud of particles obscures a bleak but eerily entrancing industrial landscape of flaming spires and refinery facilities. The soundscape is a cacophony of several different 5-second news snippets of local residence describing health symptoms from frequent chemical spills and dangerous levels of benzene gas. These voices are augmented with industrial sounds, emergency sirens, related news footage, and a commercial advertising Number 5 gum (Chemical Valley produces the base polymer ingredients for chewing gum as well as many of the synthetic ingredients and artificial flavours for Twizzlers). The exhibition scene references Chemical Valley (host to approximately 60 refineries and chemical plants) in Sarnia Ontario and Aamjiwnaang First Nation (whose land Chemical Valley encroaches upon and runs adjacent to).

Midge Swarm” (right) features a buzzing cloud of tiny midges swarming over a wetland ecosystem, resembling the biodiverse wetlands of Walpole Island (Bkejwanong), a First Nation located downstream from Chemical Valley. The interactive elements implicate participants by way of a joystick which they must use to explore this Unreal Engines vast petrochemical landscape that resembles Chemical Valley. Interacting with the joystick ignites the sirens while also emitting clouds of noxious gases throughout this beautiful and apocalyptical scenery.

Particulate Matter: Players interact with a projected 3D replica of Chemical Valley, created with UnReal Engine and TouchDesigner. Using a joystick mounted on a barrel, they navigate the scene, trigger pollution clouds, and play a soundscape of media clips, while ingesting licorice and gum (products of the industry).

Documentation

Midge Swarm: Wetland scenes captured with drone cinematography are obscured by a swarm of midges. Players clear the midges with arm and body movement in front of a webcam & play a wetland chorus on a midi board.