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== Concept == | == Concept == | ||
The organic starting point of the project is the genus of the slime mold (Mycetozoa), specifically: Physarum polycephalum. | The ‘Body Habitat’ project, as a media-artistic-scientific examination of non-human forms of life, explores and translates the artistic work with a vital organism and its habitat into a living sculpture. | ||
The organic starting point of the project is the genus of the slime mold (Mycetozoa), specifically: Physarum polycephalum. | |||
In the temporarily living sculpture the slime mold acts as an agent of nature, as it grows, moves and covers the defenceless limb. What appears a body-like member, exposes our vulnerability. It hypothesises how by exceedingly cutting ourselves off from natural forms and personal interactions with other lifeforms we grow exposed and vulnerable in time. | |||
== Hybrid Habitat - living sculpture == | |||
The hybrid sculptural habitat for a living organism, connects the slime mold‘s natural habitat - the woods - with the life it has been habituated to lead in monitored and controlled human captivity -the petri-dish- . To this end, these two ‚habitats‘ are artistically translated by visually comparing the surface structure of trees to the human body in a 'form- study’. The study of shapes and forms reveals numerous textural similarities directly connecting the two. Followingly, the final sculpture, cast from an actual tree, implies a corporeal impression, in which the human body represents an analogy for the human-centred perception of nature and questions how we encounter other species around us. | |||
In the temporarily living sculpture the slime mold acts as an agent of nature, as it grows, moves and covers the defenceless limb. What appears a body-like member, exposes our vulnerability. It hypothesises how by exceedingly cutting ourselves off from natural forms and personal interactions with other lifeforms we grow exposed and vulnerable in time. | |||
[[File:Bodyhabitat_02.jpg|400px]] [[File:Bodyhabitat_01.jpg|400px]] | |||
== Relevance == | |||
Society is increasingly replacing the relationship to other living beings and forms of life with the digital world. This is precisely why it is important to continually reflect on how we approach our natural resources, the environment, sustainable living and to lead the viewer back to the direct confrontation with nature. | Society is increasingly replacing the relationship to other living beings and forms of life with the digital world. This is precisely why it is important to continually reflect on how we approach our natural resources, the environment, sustainable living and to lead the viewer back to the direct confrontation with nature. | ||
To do this, the overall goal of the project is to create a visceral connection between the viewer and a completely different form of life - the slime mold -, who’s habitat and abilities for survival are a central theme in order to emphasise the connection between humans and nature, as the most original source of knowledge and innovation. | To do this, the overall goal of the project is to create a visceral connection between the viewer and a completely different form of life - the slime mold -, who’s habitat and abilities for survival are a central theme in order to emphasise the connection between humans and nature, as the most original source of knowledge and innovation. | ||
The creative work process is characterised by the numerous difficulties in controlling an organism according to the human will. Ultimately, the artwork is self-organising as the slime mold determines the outcome in response to the conditions of the provided habitat. This includes a possible return to a more natural unpredictability and life cycle beyond the vital, plasmodial stage of growth into the development of spores (sporangia), hibernation (dormant sclerotium) or death. | The creative work process is characterised by the numerous difficulties in controlling an organism according to the human will. Ultimately, the artwork is self-organising as the slime mold determines the outcome in response to the conditions of the provided habitat. This includes a possible return to a more natural unpredictability and life cycle beyond the vital, plasmodial stage of growth into the development of spores (sporangia), hibernation (dormant sclerotium) or death. | ||
In the end, the question of how living matter relates to the characteristics of form is posed: Will the slime mold Physarum polycephalum behave in a desired way in this new situation? | In the end, the question of how living matter relates to the characteristics of form is posed: Will the slime mold Physarum polycephalum behave in a desired way in this new situation? | ||
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File:Body Habitat Sketch_1.jpg | File:Body Habitat Sketch_1.jpg | ||
File:Body Habitat Sketch_2.jpg | File:Body Habitat Sketch_2.jpg | ||
File:branchansicht2.jpg | |||
File: | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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(4) temperature and light | (4) temperature and light | ||
* Observation (1) | * Observation (1) | ||
* | * Light exposures | ||
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For detailed explanations of parameters, individual design experiments, conduct and outcomes please look into the pdf documentation: | For detailed explanations of parameters, individual design experiments, conduct and outcomes please look into the pdf documentation (excerpt from the reader/book): | ||
[[:File:Designexperiments_.pdf]] | |||
== Sculptural aesthetics == | == Sculptural aesthetics == | ||
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File:Earlysketch01.jpg | File:Earlysketch01.jpg | ||
File:Earlysketch02.jpg | File:Earlysketch02.jpg | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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*process images : sculpture | == Design of final sculpture == | ||
The wax branch will be suspended from a metal-backdrop inside a plexiglas box with 8 small holes at top and bottom for oxygen to flow. | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Final_construction.jpeg | |||
</gallery> | |||
The initial transfer of the slime mold onto the wax branch will take place as an 'Incubation-phase': a lab standard Agar base (100cmx40cm) with oat flakes is provided to the slime mold. | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Finalsculpture_incubator.jpeg | |||
</gallery> | |||
Once the organism has reached a substantial size the wax branch is added for a 'voluntary transfer' (*see design experiments) to take place. For (aesthetic) presentation and preservation purposes the branch is transitioned onto the wall - away from the Agar and oat flakes that grow additional bacteria and molds - suspended instead in a sleek, plexi and metal presentation format. | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Finalsculpture sketch .jpeg | |||
</gallery> | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Process images sculpture 02.jpg | |||
File:Process images sculpture 03.jpg | |||
File:Process images sculpture01.jpg | |||
File:Process images sculpture04.jpg | |||
File:Process images sculpture05.jpg | |||
File:Process images sculpture06.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
*process images of sculpture additionally as pdf: [[:File:Process images sculpture.pdf]] | |||
== ‘Body Habitat - creeping garden’ - the book == | == ‘Body Habitat - creeping garden’ - the book == | ||
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A collaboration with a unicellular organism. | A collaboration with a unicellular organism. | ||
A hybrid setting for an organism to behave in a desired way. | A hybrid setting for an organism to behave in a desired way. | ||
[[:File:Body habitat creeping garden_thereader_Jakubek.pdf]] |
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