Species series (2009–Present)
Species series presents a group of unknown beings that appear to live within human territories. The project emerges from Yang's interest in how life is defined, how we distinguish living from nonliving beings, and how classification systems such as animal taxonomy shape our understanding of what counts as life. It also engages with the possibilities and ethical questions surrounding machine life. The beings in this series take forms that echo the discarded materials and forgotten objects scattered throughout the city. Although Yang creates these entities, he positions himself as an observer or researcher rather than a creator, documenting, studying, and preserving them through videos, drawings, sketches, and specimen-style displays. Species series asks what life is, how we recognize or fail to recognize other forms of being, and how our interactions change depending on whether we determine something to be alive.

Species series (2009–Present)

Species series presents a group of unknown beings that appear to live within human territories. The project emerges from Yang's interest in how life is defined, how we distinguish living from nonliving beings, and how classification systems such as animal taxonomy shape our understanding of what counts as life. It also engages with the possibilities and ethical questions surrounding machine life.

The beings in this series take forms that echo the discarded materials and forgotten objects scattered throughout the city. Although Yang creates these entities, he positions himself as an observer or researcher rather than a creator, documenting, studying, and preserving them through videos, drawings, sketches, and specimen-style displays.

Species series asks what life is, how we recognize or fail to recognize other forms of being, and how our interactions change depending on whether we determine something to be alive.

Recent Updates

Parcelum residuum

Dulcis involucrum

Note: Recent updates may include newly documented species, revised observations, additional documentation, or updates to existing records.

Segnisiter continuus	Umbra infractus
Calicem volvens	Condimentum trigonus fp1
Parcelum residuum	Dulcis involucrum
Niveuscapillos reptilis	Parvamotus magnificus
Movensbulla viridis	Claracaput caudanigrum
Viaregnator fortis	Garrulitas invisibilis
Rubrumoculus clamosus	Luxsphaera taciturna

Specimen Display Case

Selected Publications & Commentary

Ki-Woong Park, Commentary on Wonbin Yang’s Recent Work, 2025

Featured in:

Madeline Schwartzman, Alive: Synthetic Cells, Feral Robots, Rebellious AI, and the Design of Radical Life. Thames & Hudson, 2025.

Anna Davis and Lizzie Muller, “Troublemakers in the Museum: Robots, Romance and the Performance of Liveliness.” In Curating Lively Objects: Exhibitions Beyond Disciplines. Routledge, 2021.

Małgorzata Sugiera, “Reel Nature: Speculative Gardens of Eden.” In Emerging Affinities: Possible Futures of Performative Arts. edited by Mateusz Borowski, Mateusz Chaberski, and Małgorzata Sugiera. transcript Verlag, 2019.

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