Down Under by Formafantasma
Down Under: The Curious Fall of a Child Who Knew Nothing and Became Everything is a picture book by Formafantasma designed in response to a commission and residency program by C-Mine and published by Nero Editions. Blending fiction with scientific research, the publication explores the identity and ecological significance of Belgium’s post-industrial landscape, aiming to foster a new form of ecological literacy for both young readers and adults.
The book opens with a fable written by Formafantasma that challenges conventional narratives of human superiority, offering new perspectives on coexistence with other species. This first section is accompanied by illustrations by Clement Vuillier, which reinterpret and draw upon imagery used in scientific analysis, such as petrographic and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images.
It concludes with a more analytical section featuring critical text by Teresa Castro and a series of interviews with experts from the scientific field. Complementing this are two visual essays composed of microscopic images created using petrography and SEM techniques. This second part of the book delves into the scientific and conceptual foundations of the fable. Through this dual register, Down Under encourages reflection at different stages of life, aspiring to function both as a children’s book and a transgenerational educational tool.
