Sam Thys (Antwerp, 1996) explores the complex entanglement of art, ecology, and living matter in his artistic practice. What began as a fascination with photography has evolved into a profound investigation of our relationship with nature, with algae as a central medium and collaborator.

For Thys, algae are not mere material; they are living entities with their own dynamics, growing, transforming, and decaying. He embraces this unpredictability as an essential part of the artistic process. His installations function as autonomous, living systems that require ongoing care and attention, where control gives way to surrender.

Thys’ work revolves around impermanence, fragility, and ecological interconnectedness. He challenges the traditional role of the artist by not speaking about nature but actively collaborating with it. This raises questions about authorship, responsibility, and the ethics of co-creation with non-human life forms.

Through sensory, time-based experiences, he creates spaces where slowing down, wonder, and renewed connection become possible. In a time of ecological crisis, his work offers no ready-made answers but opens new perspectives on how we might exist within the living networks that surround us.