Concealed from Sight
An extreme close look at Microbial Art through Macro Photography
Microbial art or painting with bacteria is an up-and-coming way of creating art in the scientific world and it is where microbiology and design meet. Painting with bacteria is an interesting concept in marketing the culture of tiny living organism to the younger audience, the millennials, and the non-artists of the world.
This study aims to bring the amazing connection of microbiology and arts into the attention of new audiences in a closer look through macro photography with the help of the Picture Superiority Effect Theory. The Picture Superiority Effect will guide the study in proving that pictures are better remembered and recognized than words or text.
This study will also help in pioneering studies about the exchange of art, design, photography and science. In the review of related literature, published literature, articles, and theories that have been reviewed by the researcher will serve as a guide in taking and composting the photos depicting the microbial artworks.
Below are pictures bringing a close look to the bacterial formation. A variety of Aspergillus species are found in these Petri dishes. These Petri dishes are exposing in different places (indoors and outdoors) for 30 minutes and left to let molds and fungi to grow and mature up to 10 days.
Introduction to Microbial Art
Microbial art is a growing interest among the science and the art world as it bridges two very different, yet related worlds. However, there is still a lot of people who are not very knowledgeable or even aware with microbes and the art it can create and be created with. Microbial artwork is ephemeral and there is still a need to find a way to somehow preserve these artworks or just the simple bacterial formations through a multimedia process for future studies, references and design.
Microbial art is a growing interest among the science and the art world as it bridges two very different, yet related worlds. However, there is still a lot of people who are not very knowledgeable or even aware with microbes and the art it can create and be created with. Microbial artwork is ephemeral and there is still a need to find a way to somehow preserve these artworks or just the simple bacterial formations through a multimedia process for future studies, references and design.
In the recent years, scientists and artists alike are already creating art with bacterial culture as part of the new-media revolution. However, only a few people are aware of Microbial Art and there is still a need to increase awareness on Microbial Art in whatever communicative platform it may be.
The photos below are the final output presented to the panel.
The bacteria present in these photographs are a variation of Aspergillus sp., Trichoderma, and other airborne fungal spores that sprouted uninvited.
Conclusion
As a conclusion for the study, the researcher gathered that macro photography is an effective tool to depict and exhibit the design, the texture and formation of microbial art, very closely and these pictures can be used as reference or used as it is as an environment or backgrounds for different multimedia projects whether it be graphics, film, or animation.
This explorations has made opportunities to preserve artworks, especially bacterial artworks, which can only be seen for a short period of time, and in such special places like a Petri dish.
The theories Picture Superiority Effect and Formalism are among the other theories and art movements that supported this study proved that macro photography is effective in capturing and preserving the details of Microbial Art, pictures that are to be used in further and future studies about microbiology and photography. It is also concluded that macro photography
is relevant and time-bound for biology students for them to record their microbial artworks or bacterial culture as portable macro lenses for their smartphones are now available in the market.
is relevant and time-bound for biology students for them to record their microbial artworks or bacterial culture as portable macro lenses for their smartphones are now available in the market.
