An ecological fable by the design duo Formafantasma, beautifully illustrated by Clément Vuillier and accompanied by a rich selection of scientific texts exploring the intricate relationship between humans, the environment, and other organisms.
Down Under: The Curious Fall of a Child Who Knew Nothing and Became Everything is a picture book by the design studio Formafantasma blending fiction with scientific research to cultivate a new ecological literacy for both young readers and adults. Born out of a commission and residency program by C-mine exploring the nature and purpose of Belgium's postindustrial sites, it investigates the intricate relationship between humans, the environment, and other organisms.
Structured in two parts, the book begins with a tale, illustrated by Clément Vuillier, about a child who, upon falling into a hole in an open field, embarks on a journey through the hidden layers of the Earth, encountering unexpected lifeforms that shift his worldview. The second part features contributions from scientists and educators who inspired the story, offering insights that challenge anthropocentric thinking: a critical essay by Teresa Castro and interviews made by Formafantasma to Natalie Beenaerts, Roland Dreesen, Dirk Maes, and François Rineau, alongside afterwords by Louise Osieka and Formafantasma.
Inspired by the educational legacy of designers like
Enzo Mari and Bruno Munari, the publication encourages readers to rethink extractivist narratives and embrace transformation, interdependence, and the possibility of harmonious coexistence.
Formafantasma is an Italian research-based design studio founded in 2009 by Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, investigating the ecological, historical, political and social forces shaping the discipline of design today. Formafantasma boasts collaborations with countless prestigious institutions, including New York’s MoMA and Metropolitan Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, Minneapolis' Walker Art Center, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Paris’ Musée National d'Art Moderne, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, CNAP, Fondation Cartier and Centre Pompidou, Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum, Vienna’s MAK Museum, Utrecht’s Centraal Museum, MUDAC Lausanne, North Carolina’s Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Rome’s MAXXI, the Vitra Design Museum, Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria, the Triennale di Milano, LACMA, Tilburg’s Textiel Museum, and the Serpentine Galleries.
