skin
Personal project
Press:
- Dezeen
- designboom
- catalogodiseño
- Inhale
Exhibited at Living Matter(s) 2014, Amsterdam.
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Skin is an algorithmically generated, wearable object grown by live bacteria colonies. The project explores the aesthetic and functional potential of organic, bio and living materials being used within the context of digital fabrication. An initial digitally conceived form is realised physically by natural processes, in this case via the cellulose bi-product of live bacteria.
Thin cellulose material after 2 weeks growth
Image: WhoIsJuJu
The project began with an extensive experimentation phase with various potential materials that culminated in a printed book and a wearable object. The wearable artefact is inspired by animal bone corsets of the 17th and 18th centuries and the form generated algorithmically using architectural software. The material is grown from acetobacter xylinum, a strain of bacteria that produces a microbial cellulose textile as it consumes glucose. It is a completely sustainable production method that requires no external energy input in order for the bacteria colonies to produce the material. The process itself is more commonly known for the production of the Kombucha drink and has been pioneered by designers Suzanne Lee, Stefan Schwabe and Jannis Huelsen.
Initial 'mother' colony forming a new bacteria population after 3 days growth
Dried cellulose material formed over 3D printed data of a scanned human face
2014
Model: Valeria Vozzheva
Supervision: Prof. Tanja Diezmann Prof. Peter von Maydell Prof. Dennis Paul
HfK Bremen Digitalen Medien Website