Critically Extant: A New Perspective on the Disappearing World

Margot Poudroux
May 31
2 min read

Updated: Jun 1

Critically Extant is a series of 35 video artworks by Sofia Crespo that highlights the alarming gaps in our understanding of the natural world. By exploring the limits of data shaping our digital lives, this project reveals how little online presence many critically endangered species actually have — and how this invisibility contributes to their erasure.

Artist Background

Argentine-born and Lisbon-based, Sofia Crespo’s work explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and biological systems. While her previous projects delved into speculative organisms and surreal ecosystems, Critically Extant marks her first time intentionally generating digital forms based on real, threatened species.

Concept and Methodology

Crespo trained AI algorithms on millions of open-source images from around ten thousand species, generating visual representations of animals and plants that have almost no presence in social media or mainstream digital spaces. Her focus on less “charismatic” species, such as the Perote Deer Mouse standing on two paws, the Mekong Giant Catfish with its shifting patterns, and the painterly Parakaempferia synantha, underscores how bias and aesthetics shape which species gain our attention and protection.

The resulting visuals often appear slightly uncanny. This reflects not only the technical limitations of AI but also the scarce data available for these endangered species. If we have so few examples of what these animals look like, how can we expect to preserve them in the real world?

From Instagram to Gallery

Critically Extant began as an Instagram exhibition, introducing these lesser-known creatures into our daily digital intake. It has since evolved into physical exhibitions at Fellowship’s London gallery (May 21 to August 31, 2025) and at Nguyen Wahed Gallery in New York (August 4 to September 12, 2025). In these settings, visitors can encounter these AI-born species up close and consider the stories behind them.

NFT Release Details

Each of the 35 video artworks is issued as a unique 1/1 NFT, with editions dropping on Fellowship.xyz starting June 5, 2025. Collectors will be able to acquire them directly on the platform, with full release information shared in advance.

A Call to Co-Create Inclusive Feedback Loops

More than a visual showcase, Critically Extant invites us to rethink how we use digital spaces. Crespo’s project includes AR filters inspired by critically endangered species in the New York region, allowing users to merge these threatened forms with their own images. By framing endangered species and ourselves together, Crespo experiments with new ways to build awareness and engagement.

Sofia Crespo describes Critically Extant as “a project exploring the limits of available data as a means of engaging with critically endangered species.” The series is both a testament to the creative potential of AI and a reminder that digital presence can be a powerful tool for conservation. Even the smallest presence online can shape what we choose to see, share, and protect.