GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob: Difference between revisions

The creation of the slime mold installation, specifically the Petri dish setup, was carried out by Dicle Lidya Çolak in the BioLab of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. This installation was made possible by the expertise, skills, and equipment gained from the courses "DIY BioLab Driver’s License" and "Growing Microorganisms for Bioart Projects," led by Alessandro Volpato. The project reflects the combined outcomes of the "Growing Microorganisms for Bioart Projects" and "Beyond the Screens" courses.

The project centers on the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, a landmark merging an old warehouse with a modern glass structure, symbolizing the blend of tradition and innovation needed for sustainable development and a renewed connection with nature. Ultimately, ''Blob'' speculates on how architecture and media design can help create a harmonious future between humanity and the natural world.

'''Table of Contents'''

■  Specifics of video adaptation for the CDSA Festival's screens

#'''Introduction'''

1.1 '''Background and Context'''

For our investigation, an environment was prepared for ''Physarum polycephalum''—commonly known as "Blob"—a microscopic organism frequently used in bioart due to its similarities to human social behavior. This experiment allowed Blob to rediscover the city of Hamburg, where the selected screen is located. By viewing the city through the perspective of a non-human actor, we aimed to examine its past and future, moving beyond the human-centered transformations that have shaped Hamburg over time.

In order to make the artwork more impactful, we chose to maintain a strong connection to the city context. Our intention was for participants to engage with a work that directly reflects the location they are in, as they view it on the screen. To achieve this, we analyzed the historical development of Hamburg within the region surrounding the Elbphilharmonie building. Blob follows the city’s growth along a historical timeline and, at a certain point, begins to determine how the city will evolve in the future.

2. '''Project Overview / Storyline'''

The ''Blob'' project is rooted in the exploration of humanity's relationship with nature, particularly focusing on themes of rebirth, consumption, and the cyclical nature of life. By replacing the human actor with ''Physarum polycephalum'' (Blob), the project shifts the narrative from a human-centered perspective to one that considers the agency and behavior of a non-human organism. The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, a symbol of architectural evolution and adaptation, serves as the starting point for this exploration. Through Blob’s movements and interactions within the city, the project reveals how urban environments can be understood and shaped by non-human actors, challenging conventional design practices and encouraging a rethinking of human impact on nature.

'''Birth:'''

'''Undefined:'''

The final phase follows Blob’s ongoing journey through the city, guided by the actual movements recorded in the timelapse of the Petri dish installation.

Rebirth and Transformation: The project emphasizes the need for humanity to rethink its relationship with nature. By replacing the human with Blob, the project illustrates how urban environments might evolve if guided by non-human perspectives. The transformation of the city into an undefined space speaks to the possibility of rebirth and the potential for a more harmonious coexistence between human-made and natural environments.

Non-Human Agency: By focusing on Blob, the project challenges the anthropocentric view that has dominated urban design and development. It calls attention to the importance of considering non-human actors in shaping the future of our cities, advocating for a more inclusive and sustainable approach to design.

To achieve this, extensive historical research was conducted, focusing on the city’s development. Based on this research, we selected three key maps representing Hamburg in 1300, 1892, and 2018, which provided data on the population density distribution across different eras.

'''Step 3 - First Food Replacement''': To simulate Hamburg’s growth between 1300 and 1892, a second set of food sources was introduced in the laboratory. This placement followed the population density diagram from the 1892 map.

'''<small>      11 days of growth              14 days of growth               16 days of growth</small>'''

The process of cultivating the Blob required careful attention and time to ensure strong and visible growth. Over three weeks, photos were taken every 15 minutes to document the Blob's growth. The project aimed to align the Blob’s growth with a symbolic timeline reflecting Hamburg’s historical expansion from the 1300s to the present. This approach allowed the Blob’s growth pattern to mimic the city’s development, adding a deeper layer of meaning to the visual narrative. However, the process was not without challenges, as the risk of contamination could lead to mold formation in the Petri dish, potentially compromising the results.

Figure 25

Figure 26

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''rendered animation of the model'''