Initial Thoughts and Materials Regarding Sustainable Aesthetics
Experiments:
1. Growing Microbial Cellulose
Developing Experimental Sustainable Art Materials and Ways for Art, Design, and Architecture
As the Anthropocene unfolds, artists, designers, and architects must develop new ways to coexist and live a more sustainable lifestyle within harmony. Throughout this project, I aim to explore how experimental materials can positively affect art and design practice and how they can benefit not only the artist or architect but also the environment in which they are implemented. In the end, I am planning to use all my experimental materials for my potential artwork. My artistic interest is to explore the aesthetic potential of microbial cellulose (MB) and to consider its philosophical implications with regard to leaking, and growing. Along the way, this project will help me to improve my DIY cultivating techniques.
1- Growing Microbial Cellulose
- Exploring the potential of dried Scoby as artistic material. - Examining the paperish - leatherish textures
https://www.designboom.com/design/jannis-hulsen-cellulose-fibre-xylinum-stool/
Sustainable Aesthetics // 2022 WiSe Project
Slime Mold as an Architect
Mediator: Architecture / Agency: Physarum polycephalum
The results of the Project will contain [Process] Sketches, Video, Photographs, and Model.
For the project, I want to deeply explore the behavior of physarum polycephalum.
As known "slime mold cells prefer to live on upright structures, like trees and plants, and they tend to grow upward until the food is reached. They leave behind a trail of dead cells as they travel. As they grow, they can become very large and move quite quickly to a food source." I want to use slime mold's movement to create an experimental architectural plan and this experimental plan will be my reference point to build a 3D Structure for them. For the 3D structure, transparent material such as Plexiglass or Filament (for 3D Printing) would be an option to observe their movements clearly and record the process. When I build the structure ( relatively enclosed environment) I will place the slime mold as a temporary resident. Also, all processes will be quick and experimental due to contamination reasons. As a first step, I will experiment with a very small-scale transparent acrylic sheet and make a sketchy model with it. I will try to cover the inside of my model with agar and place food recourse.
References
https://www.wired.com/2010/01/slime-mold-grows-network-just-like-tokyo-rail-system/
https://www.theresaschubert.com/works/somniferous-observatory/
https://www.designboom.com/design/living-screens-slime-mould-iaac-11-01-2017/
Model References;
![[2]](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6f/f8/1d/6ff81ddc794ed0da257f880cb2e2a65f.jpg){kind=link}