GMU:Being a Unicellular Organism/Cosmo Niklas Schüppel: Difference between revisions

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Being a Unicellular Organism

2021/2022 Project and research

Cosmo Niklas Schüppel

common ground

An participatory installation that aims to create a space for an interspecial connection, inbetween humans and Euglena Gracilis - as equals

“Common ground” is a participatory room installation. It creates a space in which the Visitor can connect with the micro-algae Euglena Gracilis through the shared experience of sonic frequencies. The installation consists of a dimly lit room with shallow glass bowls of E. Gracilis. Live videos of Euglina observed through a microscope will be projected onto the wall. Sonic waves in form of musical drones (monotonous frequencies) will vibrate through the space. The participator is invited to watch their own inner reaction to the stimulants as well as the reaction of E. Gracilis. How, or if, the micro algae is also responding to the vibrations is left open and up to interpretation.

The goal of the exhibition is to make the visitor aware of their surrounding and their inner workings and movements. Microorganisms always surround us, they make up a crucial part of our living space and are vital for our survival. Nevertheless they are widely overlooked. ‘Common ground’ is trying to make the unseeable visible and to build bridges into realms where they naked human eye cannot reach. By confronting the human mind with the monotony of the soundscape, the emotional and thought patterns that sleep within our subconscious are awoken. These thoughts and feelings ‘rebel’ against the stillness. This state of mind has a meditative, trance-like quality to it. It is an invitation to go on a journey of self-inquiry. Playing with these two contrary directions of sending ones attention - to the algae and to personal thoughts-, ‘common ground’ is a journey inside and outside of the human mind. By this, seemingly contrary perspectives are brought together. Just like the different beings with different principles of perception -humans and micro-algae -are brought together in the installation. The project is a space to connect, to unite and to find ways in which opposites can meet. And even if they might not interact they can share a space together. Aware of their own and the other’s existence.

The topic of becoming aware of our surrounding and acknowledging other beings (including other humans) as equal to us, is becoming more and more crucial. Problems like climate change and wide spread depression have become unescapable facts. Becoming aware of what happens in and around us is necessary for the well being of us and of the planet. We are living in a world that drives us into getting lost in objects and problems. One cause of that is hierarchic, patriarchal thinking. This leads to a common feeling of being lost, not grounded, and desolated. Breaking this cycle is necessary to create a world in which we can live respectfully and aware of the existence of others around us. Briefly said, a more empathetic world.

The installation features live transmitted video of the organisms under the microscope and a stereo sound system. The drone music, monotonic frequencies without melodies or rhythm, are played from a recording. The visitors and the euglina, have both the same stimulant, to which they do, or don't react. The magnification of euglena is projected on natural fabrics, instead of screens or white walls, to give the video a less digital and more natural feeling. These magnifications are used to show what is also happening in the glass bowls that feature Euglena living in their medium.

Stressed are two perspectives onto E. gracilis (what we see with the naked eye, as well as the magnifications) to make visible that we, as humans, could not even start to understand them in our natural state and to again show the underlying need to understand others, in the human nature. The projection functions as a trigger to set of this instinct, but stands in contrast with the possible non-reactiveness of the cells, that bring the visitor back into their own center of perception.

Research

*for older entries scroll down*

03.01.2022

pre-project research (a summery and conclusion)

follow the link to read entry (03.01.2022)

25.11.2021

A meeting ground (project idea)

follow the link to read entry (25.11.21)

14.11.2021

A dance to invisible fields (project idea)

follow the link to read entry (b.14.11.21)

Invisible fields (project idea)

follow the link to read entry (14.11.21)

31.10.2021

Ethics of working with living beings

follow the link to read entry (31.10.21)

28.10.21

Euglina Gracilis and Bio-fuels

follow the link to read the entry (28.10.21)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Being a Unicellular Organism ==
-Project research
+/2022
+Project  and research
 Cosmo Niklas Schüppel
-< scroll down for earlier entries >
+== '''common ground''' ==
+''An participatory installation that aims to create a space for an interspecial connection, inbetween humans and Euglena Gracilis - as equals''
+[[File:common2.jpg|400px]]
+[[File:common1.jpg|400px]]
-== 31.10.2021 ==
+“Common ground” is a participatory room installation.  It creates a space in which the Visitor can connect with the micro-algae Euglena Gracilis through the shared experience of sonic frequencies.
+The installation consists of a dimly lit room  with shallow glass bowls of E. Gracilis. Live videos of Euglina observed through a microscope will be projected onto the wall.   Sonic waves in form of musical drones (monotonous frequencies) will vibrate through the space.
+The participator is invited to watch their own inner reaction to the stimulants as well as the reaction of E. Gracilis. How, or if, the micro algae is also responding to the vibrations is left open and up to interpretation.
+The goal of the exhibition is to make the visitor aware of their surrounding and their inner workings and movements.
+Microorganisms always surround us, they make up a crucial part of our living space and are vital for our survival. Nevertheless they are widely overlooked. ‘Common ground’ is trying to make the unseeable visible and to build bridges into realms where they naked human eye cannot reach.
+By confronting the human mind with the monotony of the soundscape, the emotional and thought patterns that sleep within our subconscious are awoken. These thoughts and feelings ‘rebel’ against the stillness. This state of mind has a meditative, trance-like quality to it. It is an invitation to go on a journey of self-inquiry.
+Playing with these two contrary directions of sending ones attention - to the algae and to personal thoughts-, ‘common ground’ is a journey inside and outside of the human mind. By this, seemingly contrary perspectives are brought together. Just like the different beings with different principles of perception -humans and micro-algae -are brought together in the installation.
+The project is a space to connect, to unite and to find ways  in which opposites can meet. And even if they might not interact they can share a space together. Aware of their own and the other’s existence.
-''Ethics of working with living beings''
-[[ follow the link to read entry (31.10.21) ]]
+The topic of becoming aware of our surrounding and acknowledging other beings (including other humans) as equal to us, is becoming more and more crucial. Problems like climate change and wide spread depression have become unescapable facts. Becoming aware of what happens in and around us is necessary for the well being of us and of the planet.
+We are living in a world that drives us into getting lost in objects and problems. One cause of that is hierarchic, patriarchal thinking. This leads to a common feeling of being lost, not grounded, and desolated. Breaking this cycle is necessary to create a world in which we can live respectfully and aware of the existence of others around us. Briefly said, a more empathetic world.
+{{#ev:vimeo|662267193}}
+The installation features live transmitted video of the organisms under the microscope and a stereo sound system. The drone music, monotonic frequencies  without melodies or rhythm, are played from a recording. The visitors and the euglina, have both the same stimulant, to which they do, or don't react. The magnification of euglena is projected on natural fabrics, instead of screens or white walls, to give the video a less digital and more natural feeling. These magnifications are used to show what is also happening in the glass bowls that feature Euglena living in their medium.
-== 28.10.21 ==
+Stressed are two perspectives onto E. gracilis (what we see with the naked eye, as well as the magnifications) to make  visible that we, as humans, could not even start to understand them in our natural state and to again show the underlying need to understand others, in the human nature. The projection functions as a trigger to set of this instinct, but stands in contrast with the possible non-reactiveness of the cells, that bring the visitor back into their own center of perception.
-''Euglina Gracilis and Bio-fuels''
+==Research==
+''*for older entries scroll down*''
+===03.01.2022===
-[[ follow the link to read the entry (28.10.21) ]]
+''pre-project research (a summery and conclusion)''
-I started to research the Euglena gracilis, because I was interested in its reaction to sound. After I found no research on the topic, I went into its reaction to electromagnetic fields. I found some papers, one very interesting one on the effect of EM fields on the movement of E. gracilis. This topic intrigued me, but around that time I stumbled across many studies, that work in the field of Biofuel and how it can be produced using E. gracilis.
+[[ follow the link to read entry (03.01.2022) ]]
-Bio-fuel, or in this case bio-diesel, is a “ clean“ alternative to the commonly used fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel, kerosene), because it is biodegradable and renewable. There is the possibility and hope, that it could replace fossil fuel one day.
-The topic of fossil fuels is becoming more and more relevant. In times where supplies are shrinking, demands are rising and nature is getting destroyed in the process, the need for a new source of power is as more grand than ever.
-Seeing the importance of this topic and the big possibility in using E. Gracilis, naturally I had to go deeper into the topic, even though my lack of biochemistry-knowledge would not help the research.
+===25.11.2021===
-''In theory''
+''A meeting ground (project idea)''
-Simplified the creation of bio-diesel with E. gracilis functions as follows.
+[[ follow the link to read entry (25.11.21) ]]
-E. Gracilis is grown in a medium with an aerobic environment and sunlight. If these cells are now transferred into a dark, warm and anaerobic surrounding, the E. gracilis will start to produce Wax Ester. Wax Esters (WE) are fatty acids and fatty alcohols. WE can then be converted into bio-fuel. This process is called fermentation. If cells deprived of nitrogen are incubated under the dark anaerobic conditions, their fermentation of WE is 70-fold higher then of nitrogen-replete cells.
-The amount of wax esters produced is, depending on the study, medium and other factors in the experiments, about 600-850mg/100ml (6g/l).
-''In practise''
+===14.11.2021===
-As simple as the theory might sound, in reality I am finding more and more obstacles. The deeper I dive into the subject matter, the more things seem to stand in my way. The main two things being the lack of ‚professional' equipment available to me and even more problematic, my lack of knowledge in biochemistry.
+''A dance to invisible fields (project idea)''
+[[ follow the link to read entry (b.14.11.21) ]]
-''In conclusion''
+''Invisible fields (project idea)''
-Even though I get quite lost in the science lingo of the studies. Even though my not-understanding, my constant googling of back-round-knowledge, even though my amateur attempt to tackle a topic that the top of science is working on, even though my chances of really creating my own bio-fuels are quite small, I would like to go deeper into the subject matter.
+[[ follow the link to read entry (14.11.21) ]]
-This topic holds such a controversy and such possibilities that is very important to me to work on it.
-It is a topic, that is perfectly reflecting the feeling of our time. It is a hope for a clean future. It is politically, economically, socially and environmentally too important to not be worked on in an artistic context.
-''Sources''
+=== 31.10.2021 ===
-Frontiers in Microbiology: Succinate and Lactate Production from Euglena gracilis during Dark, Anaerobic Conditions
+''Ethics of working with living beings''
-	https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.02050/full
-Frontiers in Microbiology: Bioproducts From Euglena gracilis: Synthesis and Applications
+[[ follow the link to read entry (31.10.21) ]]
-	https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00108/full
-Yoshiki Tani, Masakazu Okumura & Shigeru Li (1987) Liquid Wax Ester production by Euglena gracilis
-	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00021369.1987.10868005
-Hiroshi Inui, Kazataka Miyatake, Yoshihisa Nakano & Shozaburo Kitaoka (1982) Wax Ester fermentation in Euglina gracilis
+=== 28.10.21 ===
-	https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82718947.pdf
+''Euglina Gracilis and Bio-fuels''
-Anearobiosis using candle jar
+[[ follow the link to read the entry (28.10.21) ]]
-	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU7cdEh1I2I