Abstract
When exposed to light many microbes synthesize pigment. Individually these microbes are imperceptible to the human eye. However, as a microbe reproduces, the collective population amasses enough pigment allowing us to see their community action. I use this phenomenon to make “mud paintings” - a clear vessel filled with site specific mud where the evolving microbial populations create ever-transforming colorfield paintings. While most documentation of microbes has been achieved by taking the microbe out of its habitat and looking at it under a microscope, I have developed a 3-dimensional array to capture, stack, and merge images with a consumer grade camera and macro lens. Using this system I estimate 1 pixel equals 0.75 micron. With this system I document microbes in situ, providing context and relationality among and between microbes. Stills detecting this spatial distribution within the larger ecosystem create both a self-portrait and a daily life painting of these formerly invisible cultures. With time-lapse, it is also possible to witness the collective action creating landscape paintings that also have allegorical power. Mud paintings embody an ever-evolving play of life merging with, standing out from, returning to, and relentlessly altering the same finite landscape over time. These microbes change their landscape with their industry; consequently, a change in the landscape results in a change in their community composition. In this way, photographing mud paintings offer a conceptual process model of co-evolving life and landscape – an ecological reflexivity that might inform and transform our human moment of climate change.
Presenters
Jenifer WightmanGrad Student, Arts, Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Microbes, Co-Evolution, Landscape, Macrophotography, Ecology, Climate, Allegory
