Ferofauce is an interactive art installation and experimental organism designed to explore the human experience of uncertainty—not through metaphor, but through direct, sensory engagement.  Constructed with minimal technical means, the work offers an immediate, living encounter that is intuitive, emotional, and thought-provoking. At first glance, Ferofauce resembles a shapeless, jelly-like entity, lacking any fixed form. Made from a blend of ferrofluid and phosphorescent materials, this creature responds to two specific stimuli: a magnet and a blue monochromatic laser. These devices allow each visitor to interact with Ferofauce in a personal, tactile way. When a magnet is brought close, Ferofauce navigates toward it—constructing spontaneous, fluid paths and clustering into organic, evolving patterns. When illuminated with blue light, however, it settles and stills, releasing its kinetic angst and entering a state of calm acceptance.

Ferofauce was developed as part of a course focused on artificial creatures, where students were challenged to isolate and amplify a single quality of creatureness. In this case, uncertainty is not only the thematic core, but also the behavioral signature of the work. The creature’s unpredictable motion and responsiveness are not performative but essential—they project an emotional state we recognize from our own lives: the existential discomfort of not knowing, of being without direction, of searching for familiarity.

Each interaction with Ferofauce is unique. The visitor becomes part of the system, shaping the organism’s transformation and experiencing its restless search for grounding. The result is an immediate and memorable encounter that resonates long after the moment has passed, inviting reflection on the human condition: How do we adapt in uncertain environments? How do we find grounding in chaos? Ferofauce is rooted in bio-art and draws inspiration from studies in synthetic life, emotional embodiment, and multisensory perception. Its simplicity is intentional—stripping away complexity to focus purely on experience and response. No prior knowledge of technology or biology is needed to engage with the work. It is self-contained, accessible, and evocative.

It was developed with the help of my team members Cristina Irakleous and Pragya Jain as part of the final project for the course Artificial Creatures. The installation was exhibited in the Huygens Laboratory at Leiden University. Visitors were encouraged to engage, observe, and contemplate—not just the creature, but their own reactions to it. As much as Ferofauce reveals itself, it reveals something about us.