first_contact is a BioArt audiovisual installation.
The basis of this project is the sonification process of microscopic particles found analyzing the slime mould Physarum polycephalum.
Axel Cuevas Santamaría and Ph.D. Jose Orlando Combita-Heredia analyzing microscopic particles of Physarum polycephalum. Acarology laboratory of the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University.
We recorded protoplasmic particles flowing through the veins of Physarum during its plasmodium stage.
This flow of particles, similar to the flow of nutrients in our own blood stream, reflected each other in complex and yet very simple levels of biological existence.
I wanted to share my empathy with this non-human form of life and my fascination with microscopic imagery taking it to another scale.
The “other-worldy” landscapes and planetary textures that we obtained with the microscope at the Acarology laboratory, were asking to be somehow translated into a sound atmosphere and scaled up in size.
This is why I translated the microscopic imagery to a sound atmosphere and created large digital projections.
We analyzed the size, number, and behavior of the pulsating microscopic particles using Max/MSP and Jitter.
The numerical values we obtained using blob detection were passed through virtual synthesizers creating the sound composition for the installation.
A visual narrative of my interaction with Physarum mixed with the recorded microscopic images is projected on to four floating screens in darkness.
My intention is to share my different levels of approximation I experienced with this living organism during our first_contact.
This project was made with the intention of showing the intricate relation between the microscopic and macroscopic dimensions.
Also, to give voice and presence to a very quiet non-human form of emerging intelligence that is neither a plant, an animal or a fungi, but rather something in between.
Axel Cuevas Santamaría, during first_contact show at BioPresence exhibition, Columbus, OH USA
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Publications :
The New York Arts Magazine – Review by Ph.D. Annie Jacobson, December 2015
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https://vimeo.com/169744138
BioPresence exhibition, Hopkins Hall Gallery Columbus OH
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Does This Work For Everyone? Exhibition, Hopkins Hall Gallery, Columbus OH
Visitors to first_contact at Does This Work For Everyone? Exhibition, Hopkins Hall Gallery, Columbus OH
Axel Cuevas Santamaría installing four floating video screens for first_contact
Axel Cuevas Santamaría growing slime mould Physarum polycephalum
An inverted look of the installation
Axel Cuevas Santamaría gazing at the floating screen in darkness
Axel Cuevas Santamaría at Does this work for everyone? Exhibition Columbus, OH
Floating screens in darkness
Axel Cuevas Santamaría holds a magnifying glass over a Petri dish with slime mould Physarum polycephalum
Axel Cuevas Santamaría at Does this work for everyone? Exhibition Columbus OH
I want to dedicate this project to the inspiring artists and scientists who shared their time and knowledge during the process of this exploration:
– Ken Rinaldo
– Amy Youngs
– Trademark Gunderson
– Federico Cuatlacuatl
– Theresa Schubert
– Jason C. Slot
– Phd Jose Orlando Combita-Heredia
– Dr.Cynthia Dassler
– Katherine Beigel
– Alana Yon
first_contact is a work by Axel Cuevas Santamaría, Master in Fine Arts candidate 2018 at The Ohio State University
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first_contact sound composition:
http://soundcloud.com/axxvjs/physarum-1
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Inspirations for this work:
http://www.creepinggarden.com/https://www.cnet.com/news/this-is-what-singing-slime-mold-sounds-like/
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[…] first_contact performance is an AV exploration of imaginary worlds and dimensions between microscopic and planetary systems. I perform footage sonification of microscopic particles and video projections of my interactions with slime mould Physarum Polycephalum. A VR headset represents the virtual/physical relation between the body and space. The flow of particles used for the sonification process, similar to the flow of nutrients on my blood stream, reminds me that all forms of biological life reflect each other on very complex and also very simple levels of existence. – VJ axx […]
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