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Thrombolites, sometimes called the stepping stones of life, have inspired a biological art exhibition in Mandurah.

The living growing rock-like formations of Lake Clifton (south of Mandurah) are 2,000 years old and directly descended from the earliest known forms of life on earth.

They once dominated Achaean seas (3.8 billion to 2.5 billion years ago) but now survive in only a handful of places on the planet.

The Lake Clifton thrombolites are threatened by the 21st century environment and UWA 's biological arts centre, SymbioticA , decided to work with the local community to focus on their plight and move their unique art practices from the laboratory to the lakeside.

The result of four years work by SymbioticA , the City of Mandurah and interested artists is the exhibition, Adaptation , at INQB8 Gallery in Mandurah.

SymbioticA Manager and Adaptation curator, Cecelia Cmielewski, said that to respond artistically to environmental concerns was a long-standing interest for many artists.

"However, to do so in a way that goes beyond the didactic or descriptive is the challenge. Working with SymbioticA provides a way into artistic interpretation through biology and scientific methods," she said.

One of the collections in the exhibition is Carmel Wallace's photographic series, Visualising Adaptation: Surface and Beyond .

Her work, at the microbial level using microscopy, investigates the structures of the thrombolites. It also includes studies of water samples from the Lake which have evaporated on the slide, enhancing the crystalline structures and microorganisms.

Adaptation runs until 10 June.

Published in UWA News , 28 May 2012