GMU:DIY Bio: doing things with biology/Frederic Blais-Belanger

This research focuses on two specific areas of Bioluminescent Algae. The first one will be on how to grow them and to take care of them in the best way possible. The second field of interest is in the way they glow; which ways work best for making them illuminate? What are their limits: How long can they glow? How many times?

As an artist working on a biomedia project about multi species communication, this research aims expending the knowledge of my medium, as well as giving me the boundaries within which this artwork can be exhibited.

Pyrocystis fusiformis

Pyrocystis fusiformis is a Bioluminescent Dinoflagellate specie that grows up to 1mm. It is commonly found on surface layers of warm temperate and tropical seawaters. When disturbance in water, they emit blue light as a defense mechanism to avoid being eaten. This theory, called The Burglar Alarm, was developed and experimented by Fleisher and Case in 1995. The sudden flashes of light catches the attention of higher predators of the Dinoflagellate's predator.

Pyrocystis fusiformis under the microscope - by Frédéric Blais-Bélanger

• On Bioluminescence
• How to take care

Making it glow

• Manually Shaking

• Electromagnetic Stirrer

• Air Pump

• Sub-woofer

Project

As part of my Projektmodul Art and Biomedia: agencies of being, I am working on creating a platform where the viewer can perform a social interaction with a different specie by the forms of sound and dance.

Link to full project: GMU:Art and Biomedia/Frederic Blais-Belanger