The Glowworm Cave

The New Zealand glowworms are bioluminescent insects that glow in the dark. Typically found in the humid caves of Waitomo, NZ, the glowworms weave sticky webs from the cave ceiling in order to catch their prey. The intricate webs that are lit by the glowworms look stunning, making the Waitomo caves a major tourist attraction. The installation consists of charred wood, glass and light, and allows people in Northern Europe to enjoy the unique beauty of the caves, without putting strain on the environment or the habitat of the insects.

The New Zealand glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa) are not actually worms at all, but the larvae of fungus gnats, small flies that feed on fungi. The Waitomo cave system on the North Island of New Zealand provides ideal living conditions for these peculiar insects who require a habitat with right kind of temperature and high levels of humidity in order to survive. As soon as the larvae hatch, they start to weave sticky web string from the cave ceiling, which they then hang from while waiting to catch their dinner. The glowworms emit blue-green light from a specialised organ found on their posterior. While the other insects cannot see the strings in the dark, they are attracted to the light and end up getting caught in the sticky trap. The glowworms drop globules of sticky mucus as they go along, whichmakes the strings look like glass art hanging from the ceiling of the cave.

The sight of thousands of strings inside the dark cave system lit by the glowworms is almost magical, making the Waitomo caves a major tourist attraction. However, you cannot help but wonder how authentic the experience actually feels when you are surrounded by dozens of other tourists who all try to capture the moment with their smartphone cameras. In reality, the only people who might get to experience the magic of the caves without any disturbance are the ones working to bring an increasing amount of tourists into the area, such as professional photographers hired to take promotional pictures.

I have never visited the glowworm caves in New Zealand but find the thought of them fascinating. With this installation my aim is to create a multisensory experience that allows people in Northern Europe to enjoy the unique beauty of the caves, without putting strain on the environment or the habitat of the insects. Virtual tourism is a growing trend across the globe, allowing people to see new places without increasing their carbon footprint. Perhaps art could be utilised in a similar manner to create memorable experiences while sparing some of these precious places from the negative impact of mass tourism? The Glowworm Cave installation consists of charred wood, glass and light. The glass elements reflect light and are attached to the wooden sculpture that hangs from the ceiling, creating a cave-like atmosphere underneath it. The beauty of the glass is at odds with the charred wood and acts as a reminder that human activity is the reason why so many natural wonders on this planet have been lost for good.