Bacteria Babies
KONTEJNER
Zagreb, Croatia, 2024
Zagreb, Croatia, 2024
Bacteria Babies: Sip & See, is an installation made of bacterial cellulose, the result of an experimental research-artistic project conducted in 2023 in Vienna (AT) and Pula (HR) in collaboration with more than 60 participants. These participants welcomed 'bacteria babies' into their homes, workplaces, and institutions, caring for them with varying degrees of success. The project's focus lies at the intersection of decentralised and collective production of bio-material bacterial cellulose and experimentation with its material properties. Opening the project to external participants introduced numerous unforeseen situations, raised new questions, revealed the interests, knowledge, and fears of the community, and contributed to the interpretative richness of the project. In other words, the task that initially seemed simple began unravelling as complex and intricate layers of interdependencies.
Gatherings and celebrations related to childbirth are traditionally conceived as an opportunity to meet the newborn, so the exhibition plays with that folklore on two levels: presenting the audience with the newly born bacterial cellulose and the newly-born artistic work produced by KONTEJNER. It likewise refers to phenomena derived from traditional rituals, such as baby showers and the absurdly staged gender reveal parties that have been circulating on social media in recent times.
Within the exhibition, visitors carefully examine each 'baby’ using lamps, whilst the digital archive reveals cities (Pula and Vienna) as decentralised factories, emphasising the importance of the participation of the local community and civil society. The airy and architecturally articulated setup, organised like a refined technological archive (or a minimalist cabinet of curiosities), creates an interesting contrast to the organic and almost fleshy quality of bacterial cellulose.
Along with the successful growth of bacterial cellulose, ‘bacteria babies’ celebrates the fact that, in addition to new sustainable and eco-friendly materials with yet unexplored properties, it is also possible to cultivate the spirit of DIY and foster active engagement and collaboration in one's own community.
Bacteria Babies
KONTEJNER
Zagreb, Croatia, 2024
Collaboration with Katja Banović
Curators: Ana Bedenko, Tereza Teklić
Producer: KONTEJNER
Bacteria Babies: Sip & See, is an installation made of bacterial cellulose, the result of an experimental research-artistic project conducted in 2023 in Vienna (AT) and Pula (HR) in collaboration with more than 60 participants. These participants welcomed 'bacteria babies' into their homes, workplaces, and institutions, caring for them with varying degrees of success. The project's focus lies at the intersection of decentralised and collective production of bio-material bacterial cellulose and experimentation with its material properties. Opening the project to external participants introduced numerous unforeseen situations, raised new questions, revealed the interests, knowledge, and fears of the community, and contributed to the interpretative richness of the project. In other words, the task that initially seemed simple began unravelling as complex and intricate layers of interdependencies.
Gatherings and celebrations related to childbirth are traditionally conceived as an opportunity to meet the newborn, so the exhibition plays with that folklore on two levels: presenting the audience with the newly born bacterial cellulose and the newly-born artistic work produced by KONTEJNER. It likewise refers to phenomena derived from traditional rituals, such as baby showers and the absurdly staged gender reveal parties that have been circulating on social media in recent times.
Within the exhibition, visitors carefully examine each 'baby’ using lamps, whilst the digital archive reveals cities (Pula and Vienna) as decentralised factories, emphasising the importance of the participation of the local community and civil society. The airy and architecturally articulated setup, organised like a refined technological archive (or a minimalist cabinet of curiosities), creates an interesting contrast to the organic and almost fleshy quality of bacterial cellulose.
Along with the successful growth of bacterial cellulose, ‘bacteria babies’ celebrates the fact that, in addition to new sustainable and eco-friendly materials with yet unexplored properties, it is also possible to cultivate the spirit of DIY and foster active engagement and collaboration in one's own community.
KONTEJNER
Zagreb, Croatia, 2024
Collaboration with Katja Banović
Curators: Ana Bedenko, Tereza Teklić
Producer: KONTEJNER
Bacteria Babies: Sip & See, is an installation made of bacterial cellulose, the result of an experimental research-artistic project conducted in 2023 in Vienna (AT) and Pula (HR) in collaboration with more than 60 participants. These participants welcomed 'bacteria babies' into their homes, workplaces, and institutions, caring for them with varying degrees of success. The project's focus lies at the intersection of decentralised and collective production of bio-material bacterial cellulose and experimentation with its material properties. Opening the project to external participants introduced numerous unforeseen situations, raised new questions, revealed the interests, knowledge, and fears of the community, and contributed to the interpretative richness of the project. In other words, the task that initially seemed simple began unravelling as complex and intricate layers of interdependencies.
Gatherings and celebrations related to childbirth are traditionally conceived as an opportunity to meet the newborn, so the exhibition plays with that folklore on two levels: presenting the audience with the newly born bacterial cellulose and the newly-born artistic work produced by KONTEJNER. It likewise refers to phenomena derived from traditional rituals, such as baby showers and the absurdly staged gender reveal parties that have been circulating on social media in recent times.
Within the exhibition, visitors carefully examine each 'baby’ using lamps, whilst the digital archive reveals cities (Pula and Vienna) as decentralised factories, emphasising the importance of the participation of the local community and civil society. The airy and architecturally articulated setup, organised like a refined technological archive (or a minimalist cabinet of curiosities), creates an interesting contrast to the organic and almost fleshy quality of bacterial cellulose.
Along with the successful growth of bacterial cellulose, ‘bacteria babies’ celebrates the fact that, in addition to new sustainable and eco-friendly materials with yet unexplored properties, it is also possible to cultivate the spirit of DIY and foster active engagement and collaboration in one's own community.
