Radiation leaves marks — on feathers, bones and generations.

While radiation is often framed as an exceptional disaster, in fact, it is a rather under-discussed side of technological progress: coal-burning power plants and industrial combustion processes are major contributors to atmospheric radionuclides. These radionuclides go far beyond contaminating the planet's ecosystems, subtly shaping the genetic fate of species. According to the British Ecological Society study (2014), adaptation mechanisms through physiological responses could be present in wild birds exposed to ionising radiation: changing plumage colour leading to partial albinism and bone deformation may reduce the harmful effects of radiation exposure.

Started in late 2024 and debuted in summer of 2025, 'Spots' has presented the investigations of radioactive contamination in birds' bodies nesting in the areas of Eastern Europe exposed to radiation. m22 art collective (Vlada Oleinik, Nail Gainulla) detects and visualises the traces of the radiolabeled molecules within birds' feathers and remains, utilising contact autoradiography as an experimental artistic practice. Alongside selected films, the project presents three speculative sculptures of bird bones, which help illustrate the possible future morphological changes in birds exposed to chronic low-dose radiation.

Materials collection

Field collection

Institutional collection

first results

There are the first attempts of the film exposure and development. The faint outline of the feather is present, but more exposure time and chemical adjustments are needed for the grain (spots) to appear.

Workspace

To conduct autoradiography, we've made a darkroom lab, which had to have the conditions for photo-development and an active ventilation system, since we were working with toxic chemicals, concentrates and radioactive samples.

sustainability

We carried out procedures to neutralise the chemical solutions: silver displacement, step-by-step electrolysis, pH balancing. This made the solutions safe for industrial recycling and let us gather metallic silver to work with in future iterations of the project.

Bones future

Radiation is known to cause severe bone conditions in humans, leading to either excessive, irregular growth (osteosarcoma) or increased fragility (osteoporosis). These pathologies provide a framework to speculate how birds' skeletons might adapt — whether through reinforced structures, brittle decay, or unexpected compensatory formations.

Osteosarcoma

Normal bone

Osteoporosis

We have modified the shape of the bones, taking into account the pathologies studied and the changes in the bones caused by prolonged exposure to radiation.

Skull

Synsacrum (Axial)

Lumbar vertebrae

special thanks

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