Crayfish Cocreating Space

Crayfish Cocreating Space (CCS) is an artistic research and installation that explores the interspecies collaboration between the American crayfish and human. With a safe aquarium environment consisting of food, shelters, carvable materials, and supported metal structure, the rescued crayfish are invited to dig and carve through the form, leaving their traces as visible co-authors of the work. The crayfish in the Netherlands are known to be invasive species that cause damage to the ecosystem through their burrowing behavior that damage the dikes, cause the water to become murky, and destroy aquatic plants. I became specifically interested in this behavior because, while the crayfish are known for destruction in their non native habitat, they are known to be a keystone and an engineer species in their native ecosystem. Their burrow structures can shape landscapes and become shelters for animals such as frogs and fish. This has raised the question of why they are being seen as pests in the Netherlands instead of ecosystem builders? In the aquariums, there are rescued crayfish from the fishery. Different materials such as clay, wood, food, and plants are placed into the water to explore the burrow behavior and carving abilities of the crayfish. The remaining of the material will become both artworks and evidence of collaboration. Through this collaboration, I aim to learn more about the alternative narrative of crayfish and the potential in collaborating in regenerate nature with invasive species.