Daniel Steegmann Mangrané Hologram (sprouting hand), 2021

Daniel Steegmann Mangrané's series of holograms continue the artist's longstanding interest in the relationship between organic and geometric forms.

Akin to a small terrarium or the display cases at a museum of natural history, the holograms create a small tableaux vivant of twigs, geometric shapes and, in some cases, insects. As one peers "into" the depicted space, trying to decipher what one is seeing, the arbitrariness of the distinction made between organic and human-made forms becomes apparent. In a reference to one of the artist's important early filmic works, Phasmides, 2012, the holograms bring together organic materials such as leaves and twigs, at times modified, with geometric shapes made from card board or others that recall organic material. Several works from the series include insects, among them phasmids and praying mantises.