Medien Wiki - User contributions [en]

Physarum Policephalum (slime mold)

2024-09-21T12:32:08Z

Lidya:

'''<big>Species</big>'''

Physarum Policephalum is an eucaryotic organism which belongs to the class of Myxogastria. It passes a life cycle of morphologic phases, with the phase in which the multinucleate cells form a plasmodium (thin film, with visible branches) often being used for study purposes. This slime mold can be found in cool, humid, darker places, for example on rotten wood in the forest.

<gallery>
File:Physarum on wood.jpg|Physarum on wood
File:Physarum-Life-Cycle.jpg|diagram of life cycle
</gallery>Images taken from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/strange-yellow-slime-mold-can-remember-where-it-left-food-study-says-1.5326525

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/the-slime-mold-physarum-polycephalum/

'''<big>Growing of Physarum</big>'''

To be able to use the plasmodium for projects or study purposes, bigger cultures of Physarum have to be grown.

'''<big>Step 1: Preparing petri dishes:</big>'''

Materials: Petri dishes, Erlenmeyer flask/pot, distilled water/tap water, powdered agar, scale, spoon, aluminium foil

The easiest gel to make is agar-agar-medium at a ratio of 1 to 100:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Component
!Quantity
!Custom Quantity
|-
|water
|100 ml
|x
|-
|agar agar
|1 g
|x
|}

* Fill the needed amount of water either into a pot or the Erlenmeyer flask
* Weigh the needed amount of powdered agar (e.g. by using some aluminium foil as a dish)
* Stir the agar into the water
* Stir and heat the mixture until it's boiling (by using the stovetop or microwave) and take it off the heat before it boils over
* Pour the mixture into the petri dishes until they are max. halfway full, close the lids and let them cool down until the medium has solidified

'''<big>Step 2: Preparing food for the slime mold</big>'''

Since Physarum is capable of ingesting material by phagocytosis, it needs "food" to grow, if it's starved, it will escape.

A supply of oat flakes can be used as a source of food.

Newly bought oat flakes can be put into a sealed container (e.g. a glass bottle or a mason jar), but if you want to try to prevent future contamination as much as possible, the oat flakes can be sterilized:

Materials: Glass jars with lids, cotton wadding, aluminium foil, water, pressure cooker

* Prepare a jar with a lid by putting a hole into the lid and insert some cotton wadding tightly into the hole (the hole in the lid is very important, otherwise the jar might burst inside the pressure cooker)
* Fill some oat flakes into the jars, close the lid and put aluminium foil over the lid to prevent contamination later on (cover the lid completely)
* Pour enough water into the pressure cooker, but not so much that the glasses are floating (follow manual for guidance), place the glasses inside
* Close and lock the lid and wait until the needed temperature and pressure point are reached (121°C, 15 PSI)
* Reduce the at minimum heat at which it is possible for the water to keep boiling
* From that point on, wait about 50 minutes and ensure that the pressure of 15 PSI is kept throughout this time
* After that wait for the cooker to cool down on it's own and only then release the pressure to prevent it from boiling over
* Take out the jars, let them cool down and only open them under a flow hood with gloves and disinfected hands

'''<big>Step 3: Starting a new culture</big>'''

Materials: gloves, tweezers, bunsen burner, paper towels, 70%-alcohol, petri dish with agar-medium, oat flakes

* (put on the flow hood and disinfect the surface you are working on with alcohol, however the '''flow hood is''' '''not''' '''absolutely necessary''' )
* put on gloves
* spray a paper towel with alcohol and clean the tweezers, then hold them over the flame of the burner (doesn't have to be long) (and put them into the flow hood)
* disinfect your hands with alcohol before working with the slime mold

'''There are two ways for starting a new culture of Physarum'''

# Using a part of an already existing culture:
#* From the existing culture take an oat flake (or multiple) with slime mold on it with the tweezers and place them in the middle of the new petri dish
#* Place oat flakes as food in the petri dish around the flake with the mold
#* To prevent future contamination the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
# Preserved Physarum comes dried on a filter paper inside a sealed bag
#* Place the paper in the middle of the petri dish and put drops of water on the paper to reactivate the slime mold
#* Place oat flakes around the paper
#* Optionally the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
<gallery>
File:Physarum1.jpg|Physarum day 1
File:Physarum preserved.jpg|Physarum preserved
File:Physarum preserved2.jpg|Physarum preserved day 1
</gallery>

'''<big>Step 4: Taking care of Physarum</big>'''

To keep the slime mold from escaping it has to be fed regularly. How often and in what way it has to be fed depends on the purpose of the culture. It is possible to do this under the flow hood in an attempt to keep things sterile, however it is also possible to do it on the usual work space (disinfect first and still keep hands and tweezers clean)

* In the beginning feed Physarum every two days by using the tweezers to drop a couple of oat flakes into the petri dish until the dish is completely covered with Plasmodium

[[File:Ph. Day 3.jpg|center|thumb|283x283px|Day 3]]

* After the culture has reached this stage, just throw the oat flakes on top of it
* Since the slime mold grows quickly it may need food every day at some point
* It is possible to keep making new cultures from this one by repeating the previous steps
<gallery>
File:Day 4.jpg|Day 4
File:Day 6.jpg|Day 6
File:Day 7.jpg|Day 7
File:Day 8.jpg|Day 8
File:Day 9..jpg|Day 9
</gallery>

'''<big>Projects with Physarum Policephalum</big>'''

'''<big>Improving Tokyo's rail system (by Atsushi Tero from Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)</big>'''

While looking for food to continue growing the slime mold detects the food from afar and expands various brands in it's direction. When it has reached the food sources it only keeps the branches with the most efficient way of transporting the nutrients.

Japanese scientists from the Hokkaido University in Sapporo used this characteristic to try and find room for improvement in Tokyo's rail system.

They placed oat flakes in a wet dish resembling the locations of different major cities in the Tokyo area. Since the slime mold prefers dark places, it was possible for Tero to use bright light as mountains and lakes so that the slime mold would avoid these spots while growing towards the oat flakes.

In the end the slime mold created a network which was very similar to the actual rail system.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/slime-mould-attacks-simulates-tokyo-rail-network

'''<big>"Fusion" - Creating Art(ist) with slime mold (Project by Hanna Bremerich, Bauhaus Universität Weimar)</big>'''

With this project I planned on permanently fusing the artwork and the artist together so that they are completely inseparable. Usually the answer to the question of how much of a connection there is between an artist and their work isn't a trivial one. There is no doubt that because of the intention and the process of creating the artwork there is always "a part" of the artist themselves integrated in the painting but mostly it's not always a physical connection and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve: An artwork that is the artist themselves at the same time.

[[File:Sketch Physarum.jpg|thumb|271x271px|Sketch]]

* To start the project I studied the movement of the slime mold during our course "Growing microorganisms for bioart projects" so that I could create a drawing which the slime mold theoretically could create in a similar way.

[[File:Fusion1.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Day 1]]

* I prepared plastic dishes with an agar-agar-medium in the dimensions of a A4-sheet
* I placed the oat flakes with Physarum on them in the spots of bigger "blobs" and the food on the spots with that represented the individual flakes

* I checked on the slime mold every day and kept placing new oat flakes onto the same spots every day so that the slime mold would hopefully not move away from the spots resembled in the drawing and would create something similar
* After 14 days I ended the project
* The slime mold created multiple versions that were similar to the drawing, however day 11-14 were the closest

<gallery>
File:Fusion2.jpg|Day 2
File:Fusion3.jpg|Day 3
File:Fusion4.jpg|Day 4
File:Fusion5.jpg|Day 5
File:Fusion6.jpg|Day 6
File:Fusion7.jpg|Day 7
File:Fusion8.jpg|Day 8
File:Fusion9.jpg|Day 9
File:Fusion10.jpg|Day 10
File:Fusion11.jpg|Day 11
File:Fusion12.jpg|Day 12
File:Fusion13.jpg|Day 13
File:Fusion14.jpg|Day 14
</gallery>

//Doku by Hanna Bremerich

'''<big>Project ''"BLOB"''</big>'''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

for further details: [[GMU:Growing microorganisms for bioart projects SoSe24 / Lidya / Blob]]

Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

'''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.

[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|frameless|399x399px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry|left]]''storyline phase1/ birth''[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]]

''storyline phase2/ exploration''

''storyline phase3/ undefined''

''storyline phase4/ dead end''

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Petri dish installation'''

Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''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.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth ''' [[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''14 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''16 days of growth'''

'''Shooting for 3 weeks of growth'''

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.[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''Timelapse'''[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

GMU:Growing microorganisms for bioart projects SoSe24 / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-21T12:31:48Z

Lidya:

'''''<big>BLOB</big>'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry]]The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Undefined:'''[[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.

'''Dead End:'''[[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''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.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth ''' [[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''14 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:
#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.
This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

Physarum Policephalum (slime mold)

2024-09-21T12:29:47Z

Lidya:

'''<big>Species</big>'''

Physarum Policephalum is an eucaryotic organism which belongs to the class of Myxogastria. It passes a life cycle of morphologic phases, with the phase in which the multinucleate cells form a plasmodium (thin film, with visible branches) often being used for study purposes. This slime mold can be found in cool, humid, darker places, for example on rotten wood in the forest.

<gallery>
File:Physarum on wood.jpg|Physarum on wood
File:Physarum-Life-Cycle.jpg|diagram of life cycle
</gallery>Images taken from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/strange-yellow-slime-mold-can-remember-where-it-left-food-study-says-1.5326525

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/the-slime-mold-physarum-polycephalum/

'''<big>Growing of Physarum</big>'''

To be able to use the plasmodium for projects or study purposes, bigger cultures of Physarum have to be grown.

'''<big>Step 1: Preparing petri dishes:</big>'''

Materials: Petri dishes, Erlenmeyer flask/pot, distilled water/tap water, powdered agar, scale, spoon, aluminium foil

The easiest gel to make is agar-agar-medium at a ratio of 1 to 100:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Component
!Quantity
!Custom Quantity
|-
|water
|100 ml
|x
|-
|agar agar
|1 g
|x
|}

* Fill the needed amount of water either into a pot or the Erlenmeyer flask
* Weigh the needed amount of powdered agar (e.g. by using some aluminium foil as a dish)
* Stir the agar into the water
* Stir and heat the mixture until it's boiling (by using the stovetop or microwave) and take it off the heat before it boils over
* Pour the mixture into the petri dishes until they are max. halfway full, close the lids and let them cool down until the medium has solidified

'''<big>Step 2: Preparing food for the slime mold</big>'''

Since Physarum is capable of ingesting material by phagocytosis, it needs "food" to grow, if it's starved, it will escape.

A supply of oat flakes can be used as a source of food.

Newly bought oat flakes can be put into a sealed container (e.g. a glass bottle or a mason jar), but if you want to try to prevent future contamination as much as possible, the oat flakes can be sterilized:

Materials: Glass jars with lids, cotton wadding, aluminium foil, water, pressure cooker

* Prepare a jar with a lid by putting a hole into the lid and insert some cotton wadding tightly into the hole (the hole in the lid is very important, otherwise the jar might burst inside the pressure cooker)
* Fill some oat flakes into the jars, close the lid and put aluminium foil over the lid to prevent contamination later on (cover the lid completely)
* Pour enough water into the pressure cooker, but not so much that the glasses are floating (follow manual for guidance), place the glasses inside
* Close and lock the lid and wait until the needed temperature and pressure point are reached (121°C, 15 PSI)
* Reduce the at minimum heat at which it is possible for the water to keep boiling
* From that point on, wait about 50 minutes and ensure that the pressure of 15 PSI is kept throughout this time
* After that wait for the cooker to cool down on it's own and only then release the pressure to prevent it from boiling over
* Take out the jars, let them cool down and only open them under a flow hood with gloves and disinfected hands

'''<big>Step 3: Starting a new culture</big>'''

Materials: gloves, tweezers, bunsen burner, paper towels, 70%-alcohol, petri dish with agar-medium, oat flakes

* (put on the flow hood and disinfect the surface you are working on with alcohol, however the '''flow hood is''' '''not''' '''absolutely necessary''' )
* put on gloves
* spray a paper towel with alcohol and clean the tweezers, then hold them over the flame of the burner (doesn't have to be long) (and put them into the flow hood)
* disinfect your hands with alcohol before working with the slime mold

'''There are two ways for starting a new culture of Physarum'''

# Using a part of an already existing culture:
#* From the existing culture take an oat flake (or multiple) with slime mold on it with the tweezers and place them in the middle of the new petri dish
#* Place oat flakes as food in the petri dish around the flake with the mold
#* To prevent future contamination the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
# Preserved Physarum comes dried on a filter paper inside a sealed bag
#* Place the paper in the middle of the petri dish and put drops of water on the paper to reactivate the slime mold
#* Place oat flakes around the paper
#* Optionally the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
<gallery>
File:Physarum1.jpg|Physarum day 1
File:Physarum preserved.jpg|Physarum preserved
File:Physarum preserved2.jpg|Physarum preserved day 1
</gallery>

'''<big>Step 4: Taking care of Physarum</big>'''

To keep the slime mold from escaping it has to be fed regularly. How often and in what way it has to be fed depends on the purpose of the culture. It is possible to do this under the flow hood in an attempt to keep things sterile, however it is also possible to do it on the usual work space (disinfect first and still keep hands and tweezers clean)

* In the beginning feed Physarum every two days by using the tweezers to drop a couple of oat flakes into the petri dish until the dish is completely covered with Plasmodium

[[File:Ph. Day 3.jpg|center|thumb|283x283px|Day 3]]

* After the culture has reached this stage, just throw the oat flakes on top of it
* Since the slime mold grows quickly it may need food every day at some point
* It is possible to keep making new cultures from this one by repeating the previous steps
<gallery>
File:Day 4.jpg|Day 4
File:Day 6.jpg|Day 6
File:Day 7.jpg|Day 7
File:Day 8.jpg|Day 8
File:Day 9..jpg|Day 9
</gallery>

'''<big>Projects with Physarum Policephalum</big>'''

'''<big>Improving Tokyo's rail system (by Atsushi Tero from Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)</big>'''

While looking for food to continue growing the slime mold detects the food from afar and expands various brands in it's direction. When it has reached the food sources it only keeps the branches with the most efficient way of transporting the nutrients.

Japanese scientists from the Hokkaido University in Sapporo used this characteristic to try and find room for improvement in Tokyo's rail system.

They placed oat flakes in a wet dish resembling the locations of different major cities in the Tokyo area. Since the slime mold prefers dark places, it was possible for Tero to use bright light as mountains and lakes so that the slime mold would avoid these spots while growing towards the oat flakes.

In the end the slime mold created a network which was very similar to the actual rail system.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/slime-mould-attacks-simulates-tokyo-rail-network

'''<big>"Fusion" - Creating Art(ist) with slime mold (Project by Hanna Bremerich, Bauhaus Universität Weimar)</big>'''

With this project I planned on permanently fusing the artwork and the artist together so that they are completely inseparable. Usually the answer to the question of how much of a connection there is between an artist and their work isn't a trivial one. There is no doubt that because of the intention and the process of creating the artwork there is always "a part" of the artist themselves integrated in the painting but mostly it's not always a physical connection and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve: An artwork that is the artist themselves at the same time.

[[File:Sketch Physarum.jpg|thumb|271x271px|Sketch]]

* To start the project I studied the movement of the slime mold during our course "Growing microorganisms for bioart projects" so that I could create a drawing which the slime mold theoretically could create in a similar way.

[[File:Fusion1.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Day 1]]

* I prepared plastic dishes with an agar-agar-medium in the dimensions of a A4-sheet
* I placed the oat flakes with Physarum on them in the spots of bigger "blobs" and the food on the spots with that represented the individual flakes

* I checked on the slime mold every day and kept placing new oat flakes onto the same spots every day so that the slime mold would hopefully not move away from the spots resembled in the drawing and would create something similar
* After 14 days I ended the project
* The slime mold created multiple versions that were similar to the drawing, however day 11-14 were the closest

<gallery>
File:Fusion2.jpg|Day 2
File:Fusion3.jpg|Day 3
File:Fusion4.jpg|Day 4
File:Fusion5.jpg|Day 5
File:Fusion6.jpg|Day 6
File:Fusion7.jpg|Day 7
File:Fusion8.jpg|Day 8
File:Fusion9.jpg|Day 9
File:Fusion10.jpg|Day 10
File:Fusion11.jpg|Day 11
File:Fusion12.jpg|Day 12
File:Fusion13.jpg|Day 13
File:Fusion14.jpg|Day 14
</gallery>

//Doku by Hanna Bremerich

'''<big>BLOB</big>'''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

for further details: [[GMU:Growing microorganisms for bioart projects SoSe24 / Lidya / Blob]]

Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

'''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.

[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|frameless|399x399px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry|left]]''storyline phase1/ birth''[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]]

''storyline phase2/ exploration''

''storyline phase3/ undefined''

''storyline phase4/ dead end''

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Petri dish installation'''

Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''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.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth ''' [[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''14 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''16 days of growth'''

'''Shooting for 3 weeks of growth'''

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.[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''Timelapse'''[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

Physarum Policephalum (slime mold)

2024-09-21T12:28:09Z

Lidya:

'''<big>Species</big>'''

Physarum Policephalum is an eucaryotic organism which belongs to the class of Myxogastria. It passes a life cycle of morphologic phases, with the phase in which the multinucleate cells form a plasmodium (thin film, with visible branches) often being used for study purposes. This slime mold can be found in cool, humid, darker places, for example on rotten wood in the forest.

<gallery>
File:Physarum on wood.jpg|Physarum on wood
File:Physarum-Life-Cycle.jpg|diagram of life cycle
</gallery>Images taken from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/strange-yellow-slime-mold-can-remember-where-it-left-food-study-says-1.5326525

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/the-slime-mold-physarum-polycephalum/

'''<big>Growing of Physarum</big>'''

To be able to use the plasmodium for projects or study purposes, bigger cultures of Physarum have to be grown.

'''<big>Step 1: Preparing petri dishes:</big>'''

Materials: Petri dishes, Erlenmeyer flask/pot, distilled water/tap water, powdered agar, scale, spoon, aluminium foil

The easiest gel to make is agar-agar-medium at a ratio of 1 to 100:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Component
!Quantity
!Custom Quantity
|-
|water
|100 ml
|x
|-
|agar agar
|1 g
|x
|}

* Fill the needed amount of water either into a pot or the Erlenmeyer flask
* Weigh the needed amount of powdered agar (e.g. by using some aluminium foil as a dish)
* Stir the agar into the water
* Stir and heat the mixture until it's boiling (by using the stovetop or microwave) and take it off the heat before it boils over
* Pour the mixture into the petri dishes until they are max. halfway full, close the lids and let them cool down until the medium has solidified

'''<big>Step 2: Preparing food for the slime mold</big>'''

Since Physarum is capable of ingesting material by phagocytosis, it needs "food" to grow, if it's starved, it will escape.

A supply of oat flakes can be used as a source of food.

Newly bought oat flakes can be put into a sealed container (e.g. a glass bottle or a mason jar), but if you want to try to prevent future contamination as much as possible, the oat flakes can be sterilized:

Materials: Glass jars with lids, cotton wadding, aluminium foil, water, pressure cooker

* Prepare a jar with a lid by putting a hole into the lid and insert some cotton wadding tightly into the hole (the hole in the lid is very important, otherwise the jar might burst inside the pressure cooker)
* Fill some oat flakes into the jars, close the lid and put aluminium foil over the lid to prevent contamination later on (cover the lid completely)
* Pour enough water into the pressure cooker, but not so much that the glasses are floating (follow manual for guidance), place the glasses inside
* Close and lock the lid and wait until the needed temperature and pressure point are reached (121°C, 15 PSI)
* Reduce the at minimum heat at which it is possible for the water to keep boiling
* From that point on, wait about 50 minutes and ensure that the pressure of 15 PSI is kept throughout this time
* After that wait for the cooker to cool down on it's own and only then release the pressure to prevent it from boiling over
* Take out the jars, let them cool down and only open them under a flow hood with gloves and disinfected hands

'''<big>Step 3: Starting a new culture</big>'''

Materials: gloves, tweezers, bunsen burner, paper towels, 70%-alcohol, petri dish with agar-medium, oat flakes

* (put on the flow hood and disinfect the surface you are working on with alcohol, however the '''flow hood is''' '''not''' '''absolutely necessary''' )
* put on gloves
* spray a paper towel with alcohol and clean the tweezers, then hold them over the flame of the burner (doesn't have to be long) (and put them into the flow hood)
* disinfect your hands with alcohol before working with the slime mold

'''There are two ways for starting a new culture of Physarum'''

# Using a part of an already existing culture:
#* From the existing culture take an oat flake (or multiple) with slime mold on it with the tweezers and place them in the middle of the new petri dish
#* Place oat flakes as food in the petri dish around the flake with the mold
#* To prevent future contamination the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
# Preserved Physarum comes dried on a filter paper inside a sealed bag
#* Place the paper in the middle of the petri dish and put drops of water on the paper to reactivate the slime mold
#* Place oat flakes around the paper
#* Optionally the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
<gallery>
File:Physarum1.jpg|Physarum day 1
File:Physarum preserved.jpg|Physarum preserved
File:Physarum preserved2.jpg|Physarum preserved day 1
</gallery>

'''<big>Step 4: Taking care of Physarum</big>'''

To keep the slime mold from escaping it has to be fed regularly. How often and in what way it has to be fed depends on the purpose of the culture. It is possible to do this under the flow hood in an attempt to keep things sterile, however it is also possible to do it on the usual work space (disinfect first and still keep hands and tweezers clean)

* In the beginning feed Physarum every two days by using the tweezers to drop a couple of oat flakes into the petri dish until the dish is completely covered with Plasmodium

[[File:Ph. Day 3.jpg|center|thumb|283x283px|Day 3]]

* After the culture has reached this stage, just throw the oat flakes on top of it
* Since the slime mold grows quickly it may need food every day at some point
* It is possible to keep making new cultures from this one by repeating the previous steps
<gallery>
File:Day 4.jpg|Day 4
File:Day 6.jpg|Day 6
File:Day 7.jpg|Day 7
File:Day 8.jpg|Day 8
File:Day 9..jpg|Day 9
</gallery>

'''<big>Projects with Physarum Policephalum</big>'''

'''<big>Improving Tokyo's rail system (by Atsushi Tero from Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)</big>'''

While looking for food to continue growing the slime mold detects the food from afar and expands various brands in it's direction. When it has reached the food sources it only keeps the branches with the most efficient way of transporting the nutrients.

Japanese scientists from the Hokkaido University in Sapporo used this characteristic to try and find room for improvement in Tokyo's rail system.

They placed oat flakes in a wet dish resembling the locations of different major cities in the Tokyo area. Since the slime mold prefers dark places, it was possible for Tero to use bright light as mountains and lakes so that the slime mold would avoid these spots while growing towards the oat flakes.

In the end the slime mold created a network which was very similar to the actual rail system.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/slime-mould-attacks-simulates-tokyo-rail-network

'''<big>"Fusion" - Creating Art(ist) with slime mold (Project by Hanna Bremerich, Bauhaus Universität Weimar)</big>'''

With this project I planned on permanently fusing the artwork and the artist together so that they are completely inseparable. Usually the answer to the question of how much of a connection there is between an artist and their work isn't a trivial one. There is no doubt that because of the intention and the process of creating the artwork there is always "a part" of the artist themselves integrated in the painting but mostly it's not always a physical connection and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve: An artwork that is the artist themselves at the same time.

[[File:Sketch Physarum.jpg|thumb|271x271px|Sketch]]

* To start the project I studied the movement of the slime mold during our course "Growing microorganisms for bioart projects" so that I could create a drawing which the slime mold theoretically could create in a similar way.

[[File:Fusion1.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Day 1]]

* I prepared plastic dishes with an agar-agar-medium in the dimensions of a A4-sheet
* I placed the oat flakes with Physarum on them in the spots of bigger "blobs" and the food on the spots with that represented the individual flakes

* I checked on the slime mold every day and kept placing new oat flakes onto the same spots every day so that the slime mold would hopefully not move away from the spots resembled in the drawing and would create something similar
* After 14 days I ended the project
* The slime mold created multiple versions that were similar to the drawing, however day 11-14 were the closest

<gallery>
File:Fusion2.jpg|Day 2
File:Fusion3.jpg|Day 3
File:Fusion4.jpg|Day 4
File:Fusion5.jpg|Day 5
File:Fusion6.jpg|Day 6
File:Fusion7.jpg|Day 7
File:Fusion8.jpg|Day 8
File:Fusion9.jpg|Day 9
File:Fusion10.jpg|Day 10
File:Fusion11.jpg|Day 11
File:Fusion12.jpg|Day 12
File:Fusion13.jpg|Day 13
File:Fusion14.jpg|Day 14
</gallery>

//Doku by Hanna Bremerich

'''<big>BLOB</big>'''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

for further details: [[GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob|GMU:Growing microorganisms for bioart projects SoSe24 / Lidya / Blob]]

Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

'''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.

[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|frameless|399x399px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry|left]]''storyline phase1/ birth''[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]]

''storyline phase2/ exploration''

''storyline phase3/ undefined''

''storyline phase4/ dead end''

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Petri dish installation'''

Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''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.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth ''' [[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''14 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''16 days of growth'''

'''Shooting for 3 weeks of growth'''

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.[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''Timelapse'''[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

GMU:Growing microorganisms for bioart projects SoSe24 / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-21T12:27:03Z

Lidya: Created page with "'''''BLOB''''' The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak. 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 t..."

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry]]The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Undefined:'''[[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.

'''Dead End:'''[[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''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.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth ''' [[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''14 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:
#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.
This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

Physarum Policephalum (slime mold)

2024-09-21T12:01:38Z

Lidya:

'''<big>Species</big>'''

Physarum Policephalum is an eucaryotic organism which belongs to the class of Myxogastria. It passes a life cycle of morphologic phases, with the phase in which the multinucleate cells form a plasmodium (thin film, with visible branches) often being used for study purposes. This slime mold can be found in cool, humid, darker places, for example on rotten wood in the forest.

<gallery>
File:Physarum on wood.jpg|Physarum on wood
File:Physarum-Life-Cycle.jpg|diagram of life cycle
</gallery>Images taken from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/strange-yellow-slime-mold-can-remember-where-it-left-food-study-says-1.5326525

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/the-slime-mold-physarum-polycephalum/

'''<big>Growing of Physarum</big>'''

To be able to use the plasmodium for projects or study purposes, bigger cultures of Physarum have to be grown.

'''<big>Step 1: Preparing petri dishes:</big>'''

Materials: Petri dishes, Erlenmeyer flask/pot, distilled water/tap water, powdered agar, scale, spoon, aluminium foil

The easiest gel to make is agar-agar-medium at a ratio of 1 to 100:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Component
!Quantity
!Custom Quantity
|-
|water
|100 ml
|x
|-
|agar agar
|1 g
|x
|}

* Fill the needed amount of water either into a pot or the Erlenmeyer flask
* Weigh the needed amount of powdered agar (e.g. by using some aluminium foil as a dish)
* Stir the agar into the water
* Stir and heat the mixture until it's boiling (by using the stovetop or microwave) and take it off the heat before it boils over
* Pour the mixture into the petri dishes until they are max. halfway full, close the lids and let them cool down until the medium has solidified

'''<big>Step 2: Preparing food for the slime mold</big>'''

Since Physarum is capable of ingesting material by phagocytosis, it needs "food" to grow, if it's starved, it will escape.

A supply of oat flakes can be used as a source of food.

Newly bought oat flakes can be put into a sealed container (e.g. a glass bottle or a mason jar), but if you want to try to prevent future contamination as much as possible, the oat flakes can be sterilized:

Materials: Glass jars with lids, cotton wadding, aluminium foil, water, pressure cooker

* Prepare a jar with a lid by putting a hole into the lid and insert some cotton wadding tightly into the hole (the hole in the lid is very important, otherwise the jar might burst inside the pressure cooker)
* Fill some oat flakes into the jars, close the lid and put aluminium foil over the lid to prevent contamination later on (cover the lid completely)
* Pour enough water into the pressure cooker, but not so much that the glasses are floating (follow manual for guidance), place the glasses inside
* Close and lock the lid and wait until the needed temperature and pressure point are reached (121°C, 15 PSI)
* Reduce the at minimum heat at which it is possible for the water to keep boiling
* From that point on, wait about 50 minutes and ensure that the pressure of 15 PSI is kept throughout this time
* After that wait for the cooker to cool down on it's own and only then release the pressure to prevent it from boiling over
* Take out the jars, let them cool down and only open them under a flow hood with gloves and disinfected hands

'''<big>Step 3: Starting a new culture</big>'''

Materials: gloves, tweezers, bunsen burner, paper towels, 70%-alcohol, petri dish with agar-medium, oat flakes

* (put on the flow hood and disinfect the surface you are working on with alcohol, however the '''flow hood is''' '''not''' '''absolutely necessary''' )
* put on gloves
* spray a paper towel with alcohol and clean the tweezers, then hold them over the flame of the burner (doesn't have to be long) (and put them into the flow hood)
* disinfect your hands with alcohol before working with the slime mold

'''There are two ways for starting a new culture of Physarum'''

# Using a part of an already existing culture:
#* From the existing culture take an oat flake (or multiple) with slime mold on it with the tweezers and place them in the middle of the new petri dish
#* Place oat flakes as food in the petri dish around the flake with the mold
#* To prevent future contamination the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
# Preserved Physarum comes dried on a filter paper inside a sealed bag
#* Place the paper in the middle of the petri dish and put drops of water on the paper to reactivate the slime mold
#* Place oat flakes around the paper
#* Optionally the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
<gallery>
File:Physarum1.jpg|Physarum day 1
File:Physarum preserved.jpg|Physarum preserved
File:Physarum preserved2.jpg|Physarum preserved day 1
</gallery>

'''<big>Step 4: Taking care of Physarum</big>'''

To keep the slime mold from escaping it has to be fed regularly. How often and in what way it has to be fed depends on the purpose of the culture. It is possible to do this under the flow hood in an attempt to keep things sterile, however it is also possible to do it on the usual work space (disinfect first and still keep hands and tweezers clean)

* In the beginning feed Physarum every two days by using the tweezers to drop a couple of oat flakes into the petri dish until the dish is completely covered with Plasmodium

[[File:Ph. Day 3.jpg|center|thumb|283x283px|Day 3]]

* After the culture has reached this stage, just throw the oat flakes on top of it
* Since the slime mold grows quickly it may need food every day at some point
* It is possible to keep making new cultures from this one by repeating the previous steps
<gallery>
File:Day 4.jpg|Day 4
File:Day 6.jpg|Day 6
File:Day 7.jpg|Day 7
File:Day 8.jpg|Day 8
File:Day 9..jpg|Day 9
</gallery>

'''<big>Projects with Physarum Policephalum</big>'''

'''<big>Improving Tokyo's rail system (by Atsushi Tero from Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)</big>'''

While looking for food to continue growing the slime mold detects the food from afar and expands various brands in it's direction. When it has reached the food sources it only keeps the branches with the most efficient way of transporting the nutrients.

Japanese scientists from the Hokkaido University in Sapporo used this characteristic to try and find room for improvement in Tokyo's rail system.

They placed oat flakes in a wet dish resembling the locations of different major cities in the Tokyo area. Since the slime mold prefers dark places, it was possible for Tero to use bright light as mountains and lakes so that the slime mold would avoid these spots while growing towards the oat flakes.

In the end the slime mold created a network which was very similar to the actual rail system.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/slime-mould-attacks-simulates-tokyo-rail-network

'''<big>"Fusion" - Creating Art(ist) with slime mold (Project by Hanna Bremerich, Bauhaus Universität Weimar)</big>'''

With this project I planned on permanently fusing the artwork and the artist together so that they are completely inseparable. Usually the answer to the question of how much of a connection there is between an artist and their work isn't a trivial one. There is no doubt that because of the intention and the process of creating the artwork there is always "a part" of the artist themselves integrated in the painting but mostly it's not always a physical connection and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve: An artwork that is the artist themselves at the same time.

[[File:Sketch Physarum.jpg|thumb|271x271px|Sketch]]

* To start the project I studied the movement of the slime mold during our course "Growing microorganisms for bioart projects" so that I could create a drawing which the slime mold theoretically could create in a similar way.

[[File:Fusion1.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Day 1]]

* I prepared plastic dishes with an agar-agar-medium in the dimensions of a A4-sheet
* I placed the oat flakes with Physarum on them in the spots of bigger "blobs" and the food on the spots with that represented the individual flakes

* I checked on the slime mold every day and kept placing new oat flakes onto the same spots every day so that the slime mold would hopefully not move away from the spots resembled in the drawing and would create something similar
* After 14 days I ended the project
* The slime mold created multiple versions that were similar to the drawing, however day 11-14 were the closest

<gallery>
File:Fusion2.jpg|Day 2
File:Fusion3.jpg|Day 3
File:Fusion4.jpg|Day 4
File:Fusion5.jpg|Day 5
File:Fusion6.jpg|Day 6
File:Fusion7.jpg|Day 7
File:Fusion8.jpg|Day 8
File:Fusion9.jpg|Day 9
File:Fusion10.jpg|Day 10
File:Fusion11.jpg|Day 11
File:Fusion12.jpg|Day 12
File:Fusion13.jpg|Day 13
File:Fusion14.jpg|Day 14
</gallery>

//Doku by Hanna Bremerich

'''<big>BLOB</big>'''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

for further details: [[GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob|Lidya - Blob]]

Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

'''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.

[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|frameless|399x399px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry|left]]''storyline phase1/ birth''[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]]

''storyline phase2/ exploration''

''storyline phase3/ undefined''

''storyline phase4/ dead end''

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Petri dish installation'''

Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''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.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth ''' [[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''14 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''16 days of growth'''

'''Shooting for 3 weeks of growth'''

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.[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''Timelapse'''[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

Physarum Policephalum (slime mold)

2024-09-21T11:56:50Z

Lidya: project using slime mold added

'''<big>Species</big>'''

Physarum Policephalum is an eucaryotic organism which belongs to the class of Myxogastria. It passes a life cycle of morphologic phases, with the phase in which the multinucleate cells form a plasmodium (thin film, with visible branches) often being used for study purposes. This slime mold can be found in cool, humid, darker places, for example on rotten wood in the forest.

<gallery>
File:Physarum on wood.jpg|Physarum on wood
File:Physarum-Life-Cycle.jpg|diagram of life cycle
</gallery>Images taken from: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/strange-yellow-slime-mold-can-remember-where-it-left-food-study-says-1.5326525

https://knowledge.carolina.com/discipline/life-science/biology/the-slime-mold-physarum-polycephalum/

'''<big>Growing of Physarum</big>'''

To be able to use the plasmodium for projects or study purposes, bigger cultures of Physarum have to be grown.

'''<big>Step 1: Preparing petri dishes:</big>'''

Materials: Petri dishes, Erlenmeyer flask/pot, distilled water/tap water, powdered agar, scale, spoon, aluminium foil

The easiest gel to make is agar-agar-medium at a ratio of 1 to 100:
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Component
!Quantity
!Custom Quantity
|-
|water
|100 ml
|x
|-
|agar agar
|1 g
|x
|}

* Fill the needed amount of water either into a pot or the Erlenmeyer flask
* Weigh the needed amount of powdered agar (e.g. by using some aluminium foil as a dish)
* Stir the agar into the water
* Stir and heat the mixture until it's boiling (by using the stovetop or microwave) and take it off the heat before it boils over
* Pour the mixture into the petri dishes until they are max. halfway full, close the lids and let them cool down until the medium has solidified

'''<big>Step 2: Preparing food for the slime mold</big>'''

Since Physarum is capable of ingesting material by phagocytosis, it needs "food" to grow, if it's starved, it will escape.

A supply of oat flakes can be used as a source of food.

Newly bought oat flakes can be put into a sealed container (e.g. a glass bottle or a mason jar), but if you want to try to prevent future contamination as much as possible, the oat flakes can be sterilized:

Materials: Glass jars with lids, cotton wadding, aluminium foil, water, pressure cooker

* Prepare a jar with a lid by putting a hole into the lid and insert some cotton wadding tightly into the hole (the hole in the lid is very important, otherwise the jar might burst inside the pressure cooker)
* Fill some oat flakes into the jars, close the lid and put aluminium foil over the lid to prevent contamination later on (cover the lid completely)
* Pour enough water into the pressure cooker, but not so much that the glasses are floating (follow manual for guidance), place the glasses inside
* Close and lock the lid and wait until the needed temperature and pressure point are reached (121°C, 15 PSI)
* Reduce the at minimum heat at which it is possible for the water to keep boiling
* From that point on, wait about 50 minutes and ensure that the pressure of 15 PSI is kept throughout this time
* After that wait for the cooker to cool down on it's own and only then release the pressure to prevent it from boiling over
* Take out the jars, let them cool down and only open them under a flow hood with gloves and disinfected hands

'''<big>Step 3: Starting a new culture</big>'''

Materials: gloves, tweezers, bunsen burner, paper towels, 70%-alcohol, petri dish with agar-medium, oat flakes

* (put on the flow hood and disinfect the surface you are working on with alcohol, however the '''flow hood is''' '''not''' '''absolutely necessary''' )
* put on gloves
* spray a paper towel with alcohol and clean the tweezers, then hold them over the flame of the burner (doesn't have to be long) (and put them into the flow hood)
* disinfect your hands with alcohol before working with the slime mold

'''There are two ways for starting a new culture of Physarum'''

# Using a part of an already existing culture:
#* From the existing culture take an oat flake (or multiple) with slime mold on it with the tweezers and place them in the middle of the new petri dish
#* Place oat flakes as food in the petri dish around the flake with the mold
#* To prevent future contamination the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
# Preserved Physarum comes dried on a filter paper inside a sealed bag
#* Place the paper in the middle of the petri dish and put drops of water on the paper to reactivate the slime mold
#* Place oat flakes around the paper
#* Optionally the petri dish can be sealed with Parafilm
<gallery>
File:Physarum1.jpg|Physarum day 1
File:Physarum preserved.jpg|Physarum preserved
File:Physarum preserved2.jpg|Physarum preserved day 1
</gallery>

'''<big>Step 4: Taking care of Physarum</big>'''

To keep the slime mold from escaping it has to be fed regularly. How often and in what way it has to be fed depends on the purpose of the culture. It is possible to do this under the flow hood in an attempt to keep things sterile, however it is also possible to do it on the usual work space (disinfect first and still keep hands and tweezers clean)

* In the beginning feed Physarum every two days by using the tweezers to drop a couple of oat flakes into the petri dish until the dish is completely covered with Plasmodium

[[File:Ph. Day 3.jpg|center|thumb|283x283px|Day 3]]

* After the culture has reached this stage, just throw the oat flakes on top of it
* Since the slime mold grows quickly it may need food every day at some point
* It is possible to keep making new cultures from this one by repeating the previous steps
<gallery>
File:Day 4.jpg|Day 4
File:Day 6.jpg|Day 6
File:Day 7.jpg|Day 7
File:Day 8.jpg|Day 8
File:Day 9..jpg|Day 9
</gallery>

'''<big>Projects with Physarum Policephalum</big>'''

'''<big>Improving Tokyo's rail system (by Atsushi Tero from Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan)</big>'''

While looking for food to continue growing the slime mold detects the food from afar and expands various brands in it's direction. When it has reached the food sources it only keeps the branches with the most efficient way of transporting the nutrients.

Japanese scientists from the Hokkaido University in Sapporo used this characteristic to try and find room for improvement in Tokyo's rail system.

They placed oat flakes in a wet dish resembling the locations of different major cities in the Tokyo area. Since the slime mold prefers dark places, it was possible for Tero to use bright light as mountains and lakes so that the slime mold would avoid these spots while growing towards the oat flakes.

In the end the slime mold created a network which was very similar to the actual rail system.

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/slime-mould-attacks-simulates-tokyo-rail-network

'''<big>"Fusion" - Creating Art(ist) with slime mold (Project by Hanna Bremerich, Bauhaus Universität Weimar)</big>'''

With this project I planned on permanently fusing the artwork and the artist together so that they are completely inseparable. Usually the answer to the question of how much of a connection there is between an artist and their work isn't a trivial one. There is no doubt that because of the intention and the process of creating the artwork there is always "a part" of the artist themselves integrated in the painting but mostly it's not always a physical connection and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve: An artwork that is the artist themselves at the same time.

[[File:Sketch Physarum.jpg|thumb|271x271px|Sketch]]

* To start the project I studied the movement of the slime mold during our course "Growing microorganisms for bioart projects" so that I could create a drawing which the slime mold theoretically could create in a similar way.

[[File:Fusion1.jpg|thumb|270x270px|Day 1]]

* I prepared plastic dishes with an agar-agar-medium in the dimensions of a A4-sheet
* I placed the oat flakes with Physarum on them in the spots of bigger "blobs" and the food on the spots with that represented the individual flakes

* I checked on the slime mold every day and kept placing new oat flakes onto the same spots every day so that the slime mold would hopefully not move away from the spots resembled in the drawing and would create something similar
* After 14 days I ended the project
* The slime mold created multiple versions that were similar to the drawing, however day 11-14 were the closest

<gallery>
File:Fusion2.jpg|Day 2
File:Fusion3.jpg|Day 3
File:Fusion4.jpg|Day 4
File:Fusion5.jpg|Day 5
File:Fusion6.jpg|Day 6
File:Fusion7.jpg|Day 7
File:Fusion8.jpg|Day 8
File:Fusion9.jpg|Day 9
File:Fusion10.jpg|Day 10
File:Fusion11.jpg|Day 11
File:Fusion12.jpg|Day 12
File:Fusion13.jpg|Day 13
File:Fusion14.jpg|Day 14
</gallery>

//Doku by Hanna Bremerich

'''<big>BLOB</big>'''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

'''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.

[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|frameless|399x399px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry|left]]''storyline phase1/ birth''[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]][[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|frameless|400x400px|left]]

''storyline phase2/ exploration''

''storyline phase3/ undefined''

''storyline phase4/ dead end''

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Petri dish installation'''

Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''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.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth ''' [[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''14 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''16 days of growth'''

'''Shooting for 3 weeks of growth'''

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.[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''Timelapse'''[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-20T14:51:04Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry]]The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.
Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''
[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Undefined:'''
[[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.

'''Dead End:'''
[[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse
[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i
[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:

#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.

This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-20T14:48:05Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry]]The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.
Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''
[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Undefined:'''
[[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.

'''Dead End:'''
[[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse
[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i
[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:

#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.

This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-20T14:47:22Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.
[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry]]
Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''
[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Undefined:'''
[[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.

'''Dead End:'''
[[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse
[[File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i
[[File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg&list=PLdUPcma_TIKAQtHGJT5HqQPzl3DyyC90i&index=3

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:

#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.

This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

File:Sequence 2 timelapse.gif

2024-09-20T14:46:23Z

Lidya:

Blob timelapse / day14-day16

File:Sequence 1 timelapse.gif

2024-09-20T14:37:15Z

Lidya:

Blob timelapse / day10-day14

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-20T14:30:56Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.
[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry]]
Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''
[[File:Sequence 02 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Undefined:'''
[[File:Sequence 3 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.

'''Dead End:'''
[[File:Sequence 04 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:

#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.

This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

File:Sequence 04 blob.gif

2024-09-20T14:30:06Z

Lidya:

Blob video artwork storyline part 4

Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

File:Sequence 3 blob.gif

2024-09-20T14:18:44Z

Lidya:

Blob video artwork storyline part 3

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

File:Sequence 03 blob.gif

2024-09-20T14:08:48Z

Lidya:

Blob video artwork storyline part 3

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

File:Sequence 02 blob.gif

2024-09-20T14:04:02Z

Lidya:

Blob video artwork storyline part 2

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-20T13:56:34Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.
[[File:Sequence 01 blob.gif|center|frameless|400x400px|content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak / edit made by: Amna Chaudhry]]
Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:

#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.

This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

File:Sequence 01 blob.gif

2024-09-20T13:54:41Z

Lidya:

Blob video artwork storyline part 1

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

File:Sequence 01 blob.gif

2024-09-20T13:46:24Z

Lidya:

Blob video artwork storyline part 1

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-20T13:33:02Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vDehMDgdI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEMDSNxfdg

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:

#'''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
#'''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
#'''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
#'''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
#'''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
#'''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.

This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-19T22:30:06Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Petri dish installation'''

'''3.1''' Method

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

'''3.3''' Timelapse

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''4.2''' Inspiration

#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1''' Background and Context

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

'''1.2''' Objectives of the Project

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. Petri dish installation

'''3.1''' Method

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

'''3.2''' Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

'''3.3''' Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

4. '''Design Process'''

'''4.1''' Ideation

'''"Future in a Petri Dish":''' The project's ideation began with the concept of using primitive organisms like ''Physarum polycephalum'' to explore how a non-human perspective could influence urban development. The idea was to allow these creatures, which act purely on instinct, to process environmental inputs and take action in a way unclouded by human ego. The steps involved in this process were:

# '''Contextual Analysis''': Collecting and analyzing data related to the city’s characteristics, including weather, population density, and sociological connections.
# '''Coding the Environment:''' Adapting this data into a simplified form that can be translated into a suitable environment for the petri dish, essentially creating a “micro-conceptual city” for the Blob.
# '''Microbial Growth''': Allowing the Blob to build and develop within this micro-city, observing its natural behavior and growth patterns.
# '''Observation''': Monitoring the Blob’s progress using microscopes and installed cameras.
# '''Decoding Visuals''': Translating the Blob’s growth patterns back into the real city’s image, reversing the initial coding process to inform urban design.
# '''Visualization''': Exploring the duality between natural micro-scale growth and artificial macro-scale urban development, potentially highlighting the contrasts through visual glitches.

This approach seeks to minimize human influence and empower non-human actors in shaping urban environments.

'''4.2''' Inspiration

'''"Man-Nahāta" by Neri Oxman:''' The project draws significant inspiration from Neri Oxman’s ''Man-Nahata'', a visionary exploration of the synergy between Manhattan’s cultural diversity and Mannahatta’s natural ecosystems. Oxman’s work proposes a future where urban and natural environments are balanced harmoniously, transitioning from a human-centric to a nature-centric landscape.

''Man-Nahata'' imagines the year 2100, where climate change necessitates a re-balancing of the landscape and its inhabitants. The project introduces a circular system where four essential elements—shelter, nutrients, energy, and society—self-organize, integrating human and natural systems.3

The parallels between ''Man-Nahata'' and ''Blob'' lie in the shared theme of rebalancing human influence with natural growth. Both projects aim to create harmony between built environments and organic processes, proposing that future urban development must integrate and respond to ecological systems. By allowing ''Physarum polycephalum'' to influence the design, the ''Blob'' project echoes Oxman’s vision of a distributed, nature-centric urban landscape.

https://oxman.com/projects/man-nahata

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-16T16:22:13Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

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

#'''Introduction'''
1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-16T16:18:05Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

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

#'''Introduction'''
1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure12.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''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.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.
[[File:Figure16.jpg|frameless|301x301px|center]]

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.
[[File:Figure15.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.
[[File:Figure 17.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]'''11 days of growth '''[[File:Figure 19.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]
'''14 days of growth '''
[[File:Figure 20.jpg|frameless|300x300px|center]]

'''16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-16T16:14:13Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

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

#'''Introduction'''
1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|left]]'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.

[[File:Figure12.jpg|left|frameless|301x301px]]
'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.

[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|left]]'''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.

[[File:Figure16.jpg|left|frameless|301x301px]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.

[[File:Figure15.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]
'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.

[[File:Figure 17.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]
'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.

'''11 days of growth '''

[[File:Figure 19.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]

'''14 days of growth '''

[[File:Figure 20.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]

'''16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-16T16:13:31Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

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

#'''Introduction'''
1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|left]]'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.

[[File:Figure12.jpg|left|frameless|301x301px]]
'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.

[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|left]]'''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.

[[File:Figure16.jpg|left|frameless|301x301px]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.

[[File:Figure15.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]
'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.

[[File:Figure 17.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]
'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.

'''11 days of growth '''

[[File:Figure 19.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]

'''14 days of growth '''

[[File:Figure 20.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]

'''16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-16T16:12:17Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

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

#'''Introduction'''
1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''[[File:Figure 12.jpg|frameless|300x300px|left]]'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.

[[File:Figure12.jpg|left|frameless|301x301px]]
'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.

[[File:Figure 13.jpg|frameless|301x301px|left]]'''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.

[[File:Figure16.jpg|left|frameless|301x301px]]
'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.

[[File:Figure15.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]
'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.

[[File:Figure 17.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]
'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.

'''11 days of growth '''

[[File:Figure 19.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]

'''14 days of growth '''

[[File:Figure 20.jpg|left|frameless|300x300px]]

'''16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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.
[[File:Figure 22.jpg|center|frameless|267x267px]]

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

File:Sequence raw.mp4

2024-09-16T15:30:47Z

Lidya:

slime mold growth sequence

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-16T15:20:29Z

Lidya:

'''''BLOB'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

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

#'''Introduction'''
1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|400x400px|frameless|'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest''']]'''Man-Made Cubic Structures /''' '''Human vs. Nature''' '''/''' '''Survival of the Fittest'''

[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures /''' '''Human with Nature''' '''/''' '''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]

'''2.3.''' Key Themes and Messages

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|center|frameless|300x300px]]

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|center|frameless|301x301px]]Figure 12

'''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.

Figure 13

'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.

Figure 14

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.

Figure 15

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.

 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18

''' 11 days of growth 14 days of growth 16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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 24

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

Figure 25

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob

2024-09-16T14:50:55Z

Lidya: Created page with "'''''Blob''''' The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak. 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 t..."

'''''Blob'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''
#'''Introduction'''
'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for the CDSA Festival's screens
#'''References'''
#'''Appendices'''
● Supplementary materials

#'''Introduction'''
1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”1

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|thumb|400x400px]]Figure 1

'''Man-Made Cubic Structures'''

'''Human vs. Nature'''

'''Survival of the Fittest'''

'''↓'''[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]Figure 2

'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures'''

'''Human with Nature'''

'''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 3

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 4

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 5 Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 6

2.3. '''Key Themes and Messages'''

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 7

'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 8 

''' diagram based on 1892’s map''' [[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 9

''' diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]Figure 10

'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.[[File:Figure 12.jpg|center|frameless|450x450px]]Figure 11

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.[[File:Figure 13.jpg|center|frameless|451x451px]]Figure 12

'''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.

Figure 13

'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.

Figure 14

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.

Figure 15

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.

 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18

''' 11 days of growth 14 days of growth 16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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 24

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

Figure 25

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

GMU:Design with Fungi / Melisa and Lidya / TheProject

2024-09-16T14:50:50Z

Lidya: Blanked the page

GMU:Diy biolab drivers license SoSe24

2024-09-16T14:50:06Z

Lidya:

''Credits:'' 2 [[SWS]]

''Venue:'' Marienstraße 5, room 202/204

''Lecturer(s):'' Alessandro Volpato (Mentoring: Prof. Ursula Damm)

''First meeting:'' Apr. 15th 2024

Day 1 Apr. 15th 2024, 9:15 - 12:30 and 13:30 - 16:45

Day 2 Apr. 22nd 2024, 9:15 - 12:30 and 13:30 - 16:45

The course serves as introduction to the DIY BioLab and its routine.

Main topics will be:

- Safety in the BioLab

- Introduction to lab equipment

- Introduction to lab organisms, setting and taking care of cultures

- Drafting and conceiving projects involving biological agents

'''Student's documentation'''

[[GMU:Design with Fungi / Alessandro Volpato / Myco-Tetris|Alessandro Volpato - Myco-Tetris]]

[[GMU:Design with Fungi / Frederic Schmidt / Dokumentation|Frederic Schmidt - Dokumentation]]

[[User:Mojjo/BioLab|Mojjo Krenz]]

[[User:Sanoj Valoo/BioLabDiy|Sanoj Valoo]]

[[GMU:Design with Microorganisms/ Lucy and Hanna / TheProject|Lucy and Hanna - Project]]

[[GMU:Design with Fungi / Lidya / Blob|Lidya - Blob]]

File:Sequence 2.mp4

2024-09-16T02:25:07Z

Lidya:

final phase timelapse

File:Figure 22.jpg

2024-09-16T02:19:06Z

Lidya:

shooting for 3 weeks of growth

File:Figure 20.jpg

2024-09-16T02:17:45Z

Lidya:

16 days of growth

File:Figure 19.jpg

2024-09-16T02:16:14Z

Lidya:

14 days of growth

File:Figure 17.jpg

2024-09-16T02:13:53Z

Lidya:

11 days of growth

File:Figure12.jpg

2024-09-16T02:10:37Z

Lidya:

First food replacement

File:Figure15.jpg

2024-09-16T02:08:08Z

Lidya:

Eight Days of Growth

GMU:Design with Fungi / Melisa and Lidya / TheProject

2024-09-16T02:00:59Z

Lidya:

'''''Blob'''''

The video artwork ''Blob'', produced for the "Beyond the Screens" project module under the guidance of Reinhard König for the City Digital Skin Art Festival (CDSA), is a collaborative effort by Amna Chaudhry, Torben Zsagar, and Dicle Lidya Çolak.

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.

'''Abstract'''

The project ''Blob'' explores the themes of rebirth and consumption, advocating for a renewed relationship between humanity and nature to ensure future survival and prosperity. It contrasts the rapid growth fueled by AI and technology with the depletion of resources, warning of an impending collapse. Yet, it also envisions a cyclical rebirth, where the past reappears in the future, encouraging balance between human-made environments and natural ecosystems.

Drawing from climate projections and ancient urban habitats, the project imagines a shift from a human-centered world to one focused on nature, illustrating the natural cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. The design incorporates ''Physarum polycephalum'', a microorganism that occasionally directs the creative process, representing nature’s unpredictability and resilience. The project’s name, ''Blob'', comes from this organism, which plays a central role in the design.

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'''

# '''Introduction'''

'''1.1 ''' Background and Context

'''1.2 ''' Objectives of the Project

'''1.3 ''' Architectural Context of the Project

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual framework

'''2.2.''' Narrative structure

■ Birth

■ Exploration

■ Undefined

■ Dead End

'''2.3.''' Key themes and messages

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

■ Method

■ Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

■ Timelapse

'''3.2.''' Software based contents and editing

4. '''Design and Adaptation Process'''

'''4.1.''' Initial Design Concept

■ Ideation

■ Inspiration

'''4.2.''' Media Elements

■ Development of video content

■ Integration of media into the architectural element

'''4.3.''' summaery2024

■ Overview of the summaery2024

■ Content and design of the submission

■ Specifics of video adaptation for summaery2024

'''4.4.''' CDSA Festival

■ Overview of the CDSA Festival

■ Changes and adaptations from the summaery2024 submission

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

# '''References'''
# '''Appendices'''

● Supplementary materials

# '''Introduction'''

1.1 '''Background and Context'''

“The "Beyond the Screens" project module explores the potential of large-scale urban screens and media facades as platforms for visualizing ecological processes, aiming to make climate change tangible, visible, and experiential in public spaces. The project challenges the anthropocentric viewpoint by asking how we can design environments that recognize the needs and dynamics of non-human organisms, extending beyond human understanding and interests. By mapping, tracking, and narrating interactions within urban ecologies, the project seeks to give a voice to beyond-human species, using digital screens and media architecture to bridge the gap between art, science, and technology.”1

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.

1.2 '''Objectives of the Project'''

The project aims to explore how urban screens can serve as ecological visualization zones, making climate change perceptible and experiential to the public. By engaging a non-human actor like Blob, the project seeks to reimagine urban environments, highlighting the often-overlooked dynamics of non-human organisms. Our goal is to create a narrative that informs and inspires a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world, fostering greater public awareness at the crossroads of art, science, and technology.

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.

[[File:Figure1.jpg|center|thumb|400x400px]]
Figure 1

'''Man-Made Cubic Structures'''

'''Human vs. Nature'''

'''Survival of the Fittest'''

'''↓'''
[[File:Figure2.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px|Content made by: Dicle Lidya Çolak]]
Figure 2

'''Organic Folding Evolving Structures'''

'''Human with Nature'''

'''Coevolution'''

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

'''2.1.''' Conceptual Framework

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.

'''2.2.''' Narrative Structure

'''Birth:'''

The storyline begins with the emergence of Blob, replacing the human as the central actor. Starting from the Elbphilharmonie building, Blob begins to spread across the city of Hamburg, mirroring its natural growth patterns observed in Petri dish experiments. This initial phase symbolizes the birth of a new perspective, where the city is viewed through the eyes of a non-human organism.
[[File:Figure3.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 3

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

'''Exploration:'''

In the next phase, a timelapse of a three-week-old Petri dish growth overlaps with a map of Hamburg, illustrating Blob’s exploration of the city. The Blob’s movements are tracked, revealing how it navigates, splits, congregates, consumes, and moves through different areas. This exploration phase highlights the organic, unpredictable nature of Blob's behavior, drawing parallels to how ecosystems evolve and adapt.
[[File:Figure4.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 4

Content made by: Torben Zsagar & Dicle Lidya Çolak

'''Undefined:'''

As Blob continues to move, it leaves traces of itself behind, marking these points as memories. These traces signify areas that are no longer suitable for the Blob, preventing it from revisiting them. However, in leaving these marks, Blob disrupts the environment, transforming the texture of the city. The familiar pattern of Hamburg becomes undefined, symbolizing the dissolution of human-centric urban structures and the emergence of a new, undefined landscape shaped by non-human agency.
[[File:Fig7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 5
Content made by: Torben Zsagar

'''Dead End:'''

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.

As it moves, Blob encounters challenges, undergoes transformations, and occasionally retreats to new areas, only to repeat the cycle. This phase reflects the cyclical nature of life, where growth and decay are intertwined, and where the search for a sustainable future is ongoing but fraught with obstacles.
[[File:Figure6.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 6

2.3. '''Key Themes and Messages'''

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.

Nature of Life: The narrative highlights the cyclical process of growth, consumption, decay, and rebirth. Blob’s journey through Hamburg serves as a metaphor for this cycle, illustrating how ecosystems and urban environments are in a constant state of flux.

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.

3. '''Process, Tools, and Challenges'''

'''3.1.''' Petri dish installation

'''Method'''

To enable the Blob to replicate the historical growth of Hamburg up to the present day, we began by analyzing the city’s population density distribution from its earliest settlement to the present. Understanding how Hamburg had developed over time was crucial for guiding the Blob's growth and enabling it to simulate potential future expansion.

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.

These maps were then used to mark the development of the selected area in Hamburg on a city plan. The diagrams derived from this plan were first scaled to match the control group petri dishes (10 cm diameter) and then adjusted for the petri dish used in the timelapse photography (20 cm diameter). This method allowed us to guide the Blob’s growth in a way that mirrored Hamburg’s historical evolution, ensuring that the experiment was both visually and conceptually aligned with the project’s objectives.
[[File:Figure 7.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 7

'''diagram based on 1300’s map'''

[[File:Figure 8.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 8 

''' diagram based on 1892’s map''' 
[[File:Figure 9.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 9

''' diagram based on 2018’s map'''

[[File:Figure 11.jpg|center|frameless|400x400px]]
Figure 10

'''first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram'''

'''Growing the Blob According to Historical Data'''

'''Step 1 - Initial Placement''': The Blob was initially placed on the site representing the Elbphilharmonie building in the petri dish. To simulate the settlement depicted in the first diagram, dating back to the 1300s, food sources were strategically positioned to help orient and sustain the Blob’s growth.
[[File:Figure 12.jpg|center|frameless|450x450px]]
Figure 11

'''Step 2 - Two Days of Growth''': Over the course of two days, the Blob fully explored the designated settlement area, effectively replicating the development of Hamburg up to the 1300s.
[[File:Figure 13.jpg|center|frameless|451x451px]]
Figure 12

'''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.

Figure 13

'''Step 4 - Eight Days of Growth''': Within eight days, the Blob expanded to cover the areas corresponding to the population density of Hamburg in 1892.

Figure 14

'''Step 5 - Second Food Replacement''': The final set of food sources was introduced based on the dense urban fabric map from 2018, representing the present-day population distribution of Hamburg.

Figure 15

'''Step 6 - Sixteen Days of Growth''': At this stage, the Blob was no longer guided by external intervention. Instead, it was left to determine the future overpopulation and consumption scenario of the city on its own. The experiment continued until the 16th day, when the Blob began to weaken due to stress, marking the end of the timelapse.

 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18

''' 11 days of growth 14 days of growth 16 days of growth'''

Shooting for 3 weeks of growth

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 24

Timelapse

After capturing the images over the three-week period, Adobe Lightroom was used to compile and organize the photos. This phase was crucial in preparing the raw visual data for further refinement. The next step involved using Adobe Premiere, where contrast and overlap adjustments were made to enhance the visuals and ensure consistency across the sequence. These adjustments were necessary to prepare the images for final processing in TouchDesigner, where the visual narrative of the Blob’s growth would be fully realized.

Figure 25

'''3.2. Software based contents and editing'''

A rough model of Hamburg was created using ''Rhinoceros'', focusing on the geometric structure needed for the video, with the Elbphilharmonie building detailed more than the rest.

Figure 26

''Blender'' was then used to explore the organic qualities of this building and to simulate a human figure transforming into a creature representing the Blob.

Figure 27 Figure 28 Figure 29

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 30 Figure 31 Figure 32

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Photogrammetry data from ''Google Earth'' was extracted with ''RenderDoc'' and brought into ''Blender'' for rendering animations in the modeled environment.

Figure 33

Figure 34

'''rendered animation of the model'''

These animations, along with timelapse footage of the Blob, were further refined in ''TouchDesigner'', where they were made audio-reactive and enhanced with various effects.

 Figure 35 Figure 36

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 37 Figure 38

''TouchDesigner'' and ''AI'' plugins also helped create futuristic visual aesthetics.

Figure 39

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Figure 40

Content made by: Torben Zsagar

Finally, all visual materials were combined and edited in ''After Effects'', using techniques like masking, color correction, and mirroring to shape the Elbphilharmonie’s screen and achieve the final look.

Figure 41

Editing made by: Amna Chaudhry

Figure 42

Editing made by: Torben Zsagar

File:Figure16.jpg

2024-09-16T01:59:03Z

Lidya:

First Food Replacement

File:Figure 13.jpg

2024-09-16T01:57:07Z

Lidya:

Two Days of Growth

File:Figure 12.jpg

2024-09-16T01:55:56Z

Lidya:

Initial Placement

File:Figure 11.jpg

2024-09-16T01:51:37Z

Lidya:

first control group petri dish, based on 1300’s map diagram

File:Figure 9.jpg

2024-09-16T01:44:21Z

Lidya:

Hamburg diagram based on 2018’s map

File:Figure 8.jpg

2024-09-16T01:43:10Z

Lidya:

Hamburg diagram based on 1892’s map

File:Figure 7.jpg

2024-09-16T01:42:26Z

Lidya:

Hamburg diagram based on 1300’s map

File:Figure6.jpg

2024-09-16T01:36:17Z

Lidya:

Phase4

File:Fig7.jpg

2024-09-16T01:34:37Z

Lidya:

Phase3

File:Figure4.jpg

2024-09-16T01:32:20Z

Lidya:

Phase2