A window offers a view, and it is the view we admire, not the glass that allows the view. But when a fly alights on a window, suddenly we forget the view and notice the glass. The invisible thing between, becomes visible. My creative practice could be characterized as the glass pane — the riparian zone where contrasting areas blend and diverge — “intertopias”. Riparian zones are characterized by their proximity to two distinctly different areas and the unique conditions that result from this adjacency. In ecological terms, riparian zones, often called ecotones, are transitional spaces between two or more ecosystems such as riverbanks or alpine treelines. These transitional zones support a greater diversity of species than the adjacent ecosystems alone; species specifically adapted to fluctuating conditions. Ecotones serve as meeting points for different habitats; allow species to interact and coexist; facilitate exchange; act as corridors allowing movement and connectivity; and are sensitive indicators of environmental change.

The ecotone is a contextualizing framework representing the assimilation and divergence of my practice that thrives in the fertile ground where commissioned work, art and research intersect. My practice embraces the ethos of “total art”, which advocates for the integration of multiple artistic disciplines to create cohesive and harmonious outcomes. While my primary emphasis is design, my research uses the language of design as a means for artistic, cultural, and technological outcomes. 

Mark Zurolo