Afrah’s latest creation, Where Do The Ants Go?, is an innovative artwork designed to connect with audiences on a global scale. The piece features a cuboid exterior that draws inspiration from the voxel graphics of the popular game Minecraft, adapting its appearance based on the location of its exhibition. In its debut in Dhaka, India, the ant hill’s surface showcased a rich, deep red, crafted from locally sourced clay. Conversely, in Germany, architecture students contributed to a sleek grey render, highlighting the collaborative nature of this project.
Collaboration and Interaction
Afrah articulates her vision by stating, “Taking something back to its basic modular unit and making it infinitely replicable” is central to the concept. This idea resonates with the collaborative spirit found in Minecraft, where players come together to create. “We’re translating that into the physical space,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of community in the artistic process.
Upon entering Where Do The Ants Go?, visitors are invited to engage with a simulation of an ant colony. This immersive experience blends digital technology with elements of multiplayer gaming and the natural environment. “You’re making a whole new world inside this virtual world, which sometimes is actually just a recreation of the world that you’re living in,” Afrah notes, highlighting the interplay between reality and virtuality.
Afrah’s fascination with the project BuildTheEarth, which aims to create a 1:1 replica of every building in Minecraft, further illustrates her exploration of human creativity. She describes it as an example of a “strange human need to escape this world, but recreate it, too,” reflecting on the duality of our desires for both innovation and familiarity.
