Pareidolic Earth
Artist
Daniel Rosero
Format
Projection
Data
Satellite Imagery
Source
ESA; modified Copernicus Sentinel data, processed by ESA; USGS; NASA; Airbus Defence and Space
Daniel Rosero is an engineer and a bassist in a band, with a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction. He has a knack for joining up the dots between seemingly diverse things, and his artwork – Fading Species: Pareidolic Earth, created during the ‘24 ArtEO pioneer phase – is a dazzling example.
Fading Species: Pareidolic Earth, by Daniel Rosero, Ars Electronica, 2024
Photo credit: Sitara Kapur
The video shows satellite images of endangered habitats which have been fragmented into pulsating, 3-dimensional clouds, which move like murmurations of birds in response to an original musical composition.
Fading Species: Pareidolic Earth, by Daniel Rosero, Ars Electronica, 2024
Photo credit: Kristof Anetta
Each of the images were chosen due to the striking resemblance (or “pareidolia”) between the landscape forms and the endangered animals they harbour. Bringing these elements together creates fleeting patterns and ambiguous forms, inviting us to see through a hyper-pareidolic lens.
Fading Species: Pareidolic Earth, by Daniel Rosero, Ars Electronica, 2024
Image credit: Daniel Rosero
“Pareidolia is all about trying to find patterns in things. I was looking at satellite images one afternoon… and couldn’t help but see the shape of birds”, says artist Daniel Rosero.
Fading Species: Pareidolic Earth, by Daniel Rosero, Ars Electronica, 2024
Photo credit: Kristof Anetta
Daniel took this multi-channel video to Ars Electronica, where he was able to present it in a stereoscopic view (a fully 3D cinematic experience), making use of the advanced technology on offer. As of 2025, a year later, he continues to iterate and re-iterate the piece, as part of an ongoing experiment in other contexts.
