summaery2019: Projects
Hidden Environment
Project information
submitted by
César Felipe Carvalho Daher
Mentors
Mindaugas Gapševičius
Faculty:
Art and Design
Degree programme:
Media Art and Design - Study programme Media Art and Design (MAD) (english) (Master of Science (M.Sc.))
Type of project presentation
Artwork
Semester
Summer semester 2019
- Marienstraße 7b
(204)
attractive to children
Project description
Most microorganisms are known to us, but can’t be easily seen. If we approach them in a respectful way, they might just reveal their hidden world to us. Interact with this aquarium and discover the wonders of Pyrocystis Fusiformis.
Hidden Environment seeks to create a feedback loop between human spectators and bioluminescent microorganisms. The marine plankton known as Pyrocystis Fusiformis are able to produce light and become visible when disturbed. Rather than just disturbing them for our own visual purposes, it is possible for us humans to appreciate their beauty, while still being respectful towards them. Instead of looking for this answer in our artificially designed world, we should search their own natural world.
This piece consists of an aquarium filled with a population of these microorganisms, installed in a dark surrounding. The visitors can take samples of the appropriate medium and drip it over the aquarium, creating minor disturbances that will cause them to glow while still being nourished. The effect of dripping water over the surface goes back to the rain experience, which is familiar to both humans and microorganisms.
This project was developed within the BioLab, as part of the I, Organism and Feedback Loops course, advised by Mindaugas Gapševičius. Michael Markert served as secondary advisor in the Art of R_duction course. Special thanks to Antje Danz for technical support.
Email: daher.cesar[at]gmail.com