Holobiont

 A holobiont is an assemblage of a host and the many other species living in or around it, which together form a discrete ecological unit 

The word ‘holobiont’ derives from the Greek word ‘holos’ which means whole. Holobionts are the lichens of this world, the more-than-the-sums of their parts.  Merlin Sheldrake. Entangled Life

A lichen is not a single organism; it is a stable symbiotic association between a fungus and an algae and/or cyanobaceteria. The British Lichen Society.

Holobiont started as a collaborative project with fellow artist Caroline Vitzthum and in partnership with The National Botanic Garden of Wales in 2021-2

Sarah and Caroline explored local ecologies, as well as cultural links between the two small nations of Wales and Austria.

After a 2 week residency in Llandeilo, Wales in May 2021 they ran a series of related events during the Autumn.

A podcast about the first stage of Holobiont, was produced for Radio Spike Fm which was broadcast as part of Spike Island Open Studios in Bristol 2021, followed by a Reading and Discussion group for Spike Island Associates on July 1st where related topics were explored.

This was followed by free events hosted at Studio Cennen, near Llandeilo, West Wales in October 2021:

Presenting the project Holobiont and their individual practices followed by a film screening and discussion

Reading and discussion group

Woodland Fungi walk led by a mycologist from National Botanic Garden of Wales with readings by Sarah and Caroline.

 * Merlin Sheldrake, Entangled Life p103

** The British Lichen Society website

Sarah’s work titled ‘Cryptic Landscape’ was shown in The National Botanic Garden 2021-2