Title: Heliotropika: interfacing between humans and cyanobacteria

Authors: Juan M. Castro; Hideo Iwasaki

Addresses: metaPhorest (Biological/Biomedia Art Platform), Laboratory for Molecular Cell Network and Biomedia Art, Department of Electrical Engineering & Biosciences, Waseda University, TWIns, 2-2 Wakamatsu, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan ' metaPhorest (Biological/Biomedia Art Platform), Laboratory for Molecular Cell Network and Biomedia Art, Department of Electrical Engineering & Biosciences, Waseda University, TWIns, 2-2 Wakamatsu, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan

Abstract: This is a hybrid installation that creates an interface between people and cyanobacteria. The project integrates the photosynthetic activity of these microorganisms, the dynamics of environmental light and the bioelectrical activity of the participants. Using cell culture and computer vision, this work renders the photosynthetic activity of cyanobacteria in the form of an organic structure. It also produces dynamic geometries of solar energy by analysing environmental data. Simultaneously, this work transforms the activity of the nervous system of each participant into 'light' to stimulate the cells. As a result, visitors and cyanobacteria influence each other giving subsistence to a dynamic feedback system.

Keywords: inter-kingdom interaction; coexistence; photosynthesis; light energy; cyanobacteria; cell culture; data visualisation; biofeedback; computer vision; biomedia art; human-cyanobacteria interface; microorganisms; environmental light; bioelectrical activity; organic structure; dynamic geometries; solar energy; solar power; nervous system; dynamic feedback.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2014.066455

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2014 Vol.7 No.4, pp.373 - 376

Received: 30 May 2013
Accepted: 04 Aug 2013
Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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