Morakana, a studio that merges art, science, and technology
Morakana is an art studio founded in New York that intersects art, science, and technology through experimentation with biological and technological systems.
Morakana is a unique art studio established in New York by Thai artist Tiri Kananuruk and Mexican artist and engineer Sebastián Morales Prado. Their collaboration began in 2016 during their master's program in Art and Technology at New York University (NYU), and they formally started working together in 2017. The project gained momentum during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, when they found innovative ways to combine their artistic disciplines.
The central focus of Morakana is the integration of art with scientific inquiry and technological innovation. Kananuruk and Morales Prado aim to explore fundamental questions through their artworks by using biological and technological systems in their research and performances. A significant aspect of their work involves online performances that are influenced by microscopic observations of a drop of water, where cellular movements trigger generative audio systems, bridging the gap between visual art and sound.
Through their artistic practice, Morakana exemplifies how artists can utilize scientific concepts and technological tools to expand the boundaries of contemporary art. Their work not only presents an aesthetic experience but also provokes thought on the intersections of nature, technology, and the human experience, making contributions to discourse within both the art world and scientific communities.