A significant insect to Australian heritage, and cultural staple, the rain moth poses traits unique to the insect world. A three-stage life cycle begins by feeding on native tree roots underground for 4-6 years. The larvae is commonly known as the Witjuti or Bardi Grub. As the pupae comes to the surface, it waits in anticipation for the rains before a short, but full 24 hours of adult life with a sole purpose to mate and reproduce. The female will lay her eggs in flight directed at the base of trees. The rain pushes the eggs deeper into crevasse and provides new growth and soft roots for the young larvae to begin a new cycle of life. The rain moth relies on the rain to finish what it starts ultimately keeping the species alive. ‘Follow the Rain’ takes the concept of lifecycle and applies it to a gentle collaboration between machine and nature, relying on the rain to keep a species growing while creating an opportunity to be, and experience everything the rain is.

Sited at the east end of Karrawirra (Torrens River), Adelaide ‘Follow the Rain’ begins its life through an underground hydrogen facility, working to sustain a fuel source for a short, but sweet moment of life. A constant turn-around of material engineering and unmanned flight technology works to produce multiple bio-degradable, hydrogen balloons. A seed orchard located next to the facility provides Australian native seeds to be implanted within the balloon’s membrane, allowing a future of growth. Working in anticipation and waiting for the rains, the completed and hydrogen filled, balloons leave the facility, following the rain path for 24 hours before landing in an open field. Two travelers jump onboard and are greeted with an experience of rain from the source itself. A time to be, to experience everything the rain offers, without a foot on the ground. As the rain clears the balloon falls, a gentle decent on a space to now inhabit. ‘Follow the Rain’ ends a life of flight here but begins a new life of disintegrating with the conditions and sprouting new growth.