The Endemic Project

WORDS Michaela Stehr IMAGES Supplied

This interactive public art project in Cape Town, which can be spotted along Rhodes Drive, highlights the need to respect and appreciate nature and our surroundings.

Filmmaker Bryan Little has created The Endemic Project, a series of reflective indigenous creatures that light up as you drive past them at night.

A geo-tagged soundtrack can be downloaded to create an even more interactive experience, by playing the sounds of the animal as you drive past.

“Endemic species are found nowhere else in the world, so each creature you see is unique to the Western Cape and the fynbos floral kingdom, from the Geometric Tortoise to the Orange-Breasted Sunbird to the Ghost Frog,” says Bryan. “However, none of them are found along Rhodes Drive any more. They could still exist in the area if the alien trees they are nailed to weren’t there. It’s an interesting frontline between comfort and conservation, indicative of a global struggle.”

The soundtrack, arranged by Sylvan Aztok, is available from voicemap.me/endemic. Voice Map is a locally-designed, location-aware technology for telling stories about places.

Designed to be most effective at night, it is recommend that travelling at 50km/hour will create the optimum experience. Use headphones and a hands-free kit, or if sharing the experience, play through the car sound system using an auxiliary cable or bluetooth.

Watch the making of The Endemic Project:

(via Fly on the Wall on Vimeo)

For more information, visit The Endemic Project on Facebook.