Lumen
Lumen explores symbiosis through the development of biological artworks that change over time, demonstrating the complex systems and mechanisms of bacterial communities. The project is in the early stages of development and is in collaboration with Dr Karrera Djoko, Durham University, who investigates the effect of nutrient metal availability, specifically copper, in microbes living in isolation or in a community.
The project seeks to develop techniques to visualise, in real-time, the interaction of multiple microbes in combination, by utilising microbes modified to glow in the presence/absence of copper. The research will establish temporal artworks that communicate the complexity of eubiotic and dysbiotic systems using organic processes and will culminate in objects that will serve as a hybrid between artworks and scientific experiments.
The project will utilise light-emitting properties (through genetic modification) of selected bacteria to draw and sculpt with bacteria, to form time-based biological light artworks (2-D and 3-D). This will result in video works, projections, photography and (bacteria made) photograms/light paintings.
Lumen is in the research and development phase and is supported by the Biophysical Sciences Institute, Durham University