Sue Anderson

The Wisdom in the Ring

At a time of concern over global warming and a need to recognise human influence on the finely tuned biosphere in which we live, environmental philosophers are asking why we can't consider evolution as a demonstration of mind in nature, of the intelligence involved in species differentiation and elaboration, the intelligence of forms described as 'the wisdom in the ring' by philosopher Dan Dennett.

Intelligence of forms is demonstrated within the phytoplankton world as they respond in huge biomass to moderate greenhouse gases by acting as carbon sinks, generate more than half of the world's oxygen and trigger cloud formation. Scientists do not know how fast these microorganisms can or will adapt to the warming of the oceans and to the raised carbon levels already being noted in the seas. How this will impact on the delicate and vital role played by phytoplankton in the balance of our biosphere is of concern.

The Wisdom in the Ring becomes the title for a series of drawings which explore the balance and symmetry within the marine world as revealed by the electron microscope. From the myriad of site specific forms, four species of phytoplankton were chosen which could be overlapped into a circular or ring formation, symbolising unity, wholeness, and infinity - attributes which reflect the critical and still emerging role played by these microorganisms.

In her poem The Bells, Adrienne Eberhard responds to the mysterious phytoplankton world through the drawing Ornithocercus.

The Wisdom in the Ring card sets featuring the four plankton ring drawings in the series and Adrienne Eberhard's poem are available at both galleries during the exhibition.

I am indebted to: Dr Shirley Jeffrey, former Chief Scientist, CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, Associate Professor Gustaaf Hallegraeff, University of Tasmania, for his publication Plankton: A Critical Creation Foot & Playsted, Launceston, 100 (2006) and Dr Hugh Forehead, University of Tasmania.