‘In 1877, the German botanist Albert Frank coined the word “Symbiosis” to describe the living together of fungal and algal partners, a word that was soon generalised to interactions between any type of organism, stretching from parasitism at one pole to mutually beneficial relationships at the other.’ Merlin Sheldrake Entangled Life.

This intersecting of natural phenomena forms the basis of Freeman’s exploration of the Portland ecology. Through a series of etchings and a site-specific sculpture, she depicts a parallel world that magnifies the surrounding microscopic ecosystem, creating something visually disturbing yet alluring.

‘Extremophile’ is a site responsive sculpture, forming a symbiotic relationship with a specific Stone in Tout Quarry. The piece evolved slowly over time and continued to ‘grow’ until it was installed on the rock. The delicate nature of the work means that from the path it is almost imperceptible and may be missed, reflecting much of the biology on our planet.