By Siiri Tarrikas
The latest Hortus Semioticus cover art was inspired to fit the issue’s theme: the future. I used bold colors and frames because the future unfolds before us as a kaleidoscopic world of mesmerizing colors, shapes, and emotions, shifting in response to changes in the environment or significant events—much like the patterns in a kaleidoscope transform with every twist. The magic in kaleidoscope arises from the convergence of fortunate coincidences, the presence of mirrors, and viewers with their distinctive perspectives. Mirrors in the kaleidoscope represent our communication partners who reflect everything we do, and collaborate in forming new colorful patterns. The cover art is simultaneously abstract and personal, allowing viewers to discover a multitude of different interpretations, thereby hinting that there are always new ways to look at our world.
From the perspective of biosemiotics, I imagined a future where the boundaries between nature and culture are blurrier than our present reality allows; where there are more ways to coexist with other species. Therefore, the world in this image has several layers; everyone is projecting their umwelt to others through communication and interaction, but at the same time, living inside their umwelt bubble. Maybe in the future, we can share our sensory experiences and umwelten with other species using virtual devices, or some technology can give us new senses, so the boundaries of perception and umwelten will be redefined. I imagine that it will be possible to communicate with animals in their languages in the future.
There is also a subtle hint to the film “Matrix,” which challenges our understanding of what is real and what is artificial. In the future, the boundaries between the real and the virtual may become increasingly indistinct. Therefore, the representation of nature in this artwork is also intentionally abstract, blurring the lines between natural and artificial. Trees, for instance, grow in ways that challenge conventional notions of up and down, emphasizing the evolving symbiosis of nature and technology.
Hopefully, there is more to discover and other ways to interpret the cover art as the kaleidoscope turns again …