Mapping Bacterial Patterns in Public Space with BioArt Installation by Said Dokins.

Bio-rescrituras. Said Dokins . Photos: Leonardo Luna

‘Writing that fuses macro and micro perspectives’

Said Dokins’ Bio-rescrituras project is an exploration of the human body as a permeable entity, influenced by the latest discoveries in the study of the human microbiome. Through this lens, the body is seen as a constantly evolving entity, shaped by interactions between tissues, cells, genes, bacteria, enzymes, and other semi-living entities. These micro-interactions give rise to negotiations for different functions, ultimately shaping and reconstructing the body as a whole.

Current research on the microbiome confirms that microorganisms exist symbiotically with the human body, in a constant exchange of information through chemical signals that elicit responses in various metabolic centers. This leads to a better understanding of the human body as an ecological unit, a holobiont in constant feedback with its environment.

Through his work, Dokins aims to challenge traditional notions of the body as a closed, individualized entity, exploring the interconnectivity between the human body, microbiome, and the environment through a micro-performative exercise that analyzes and relates to the scientific knowledge production process.

It consists of three phases and presents itself as an audiovisual installation that updates as the exhibition progresses.

Body Itineraries: Exploring Microbial Landscapes of Human Movement and Bacterial Patterns in Public Space

Itinerarios aimed to document the microbiological patterns of the daily itineraries of 15 students from Tecnológico de Monterrey. Participants deposited their handprints on agar plates, which were then incubated to visualize the growth of microorganisms. The resulting microbial growth was displayed over several days, creating a dynamic microbial fingerprint dependent on geographic space.

Exploring the Intersection of Writing and Microbiology: Bio-Writings, Bio-Stencils, and Bacterial Patterns in Cultivated Mediums

Both the bio-writings and bio-stencils operate from an abstract language that challenges conventional norms and structures towards a new dialogue between the written and the living. Microorganisms find within the scriptural pattern a medium in which they can live and reproduce, becoming a kind of bacteriological ink, a starting point for a writing that is overflowing, intermingled, hybrid, where death and life still coexist in a constant relationship. This challenges the traditional binary between living and non-living, and instead presents a dynamic and interconnected relationship between the microbial world and human cultural production. It opens up possibilities for exploring alternative modes of communication and meaning-making that take into account the entanglements between the microbiome, the environment, and human bodies.

Bioluminescent Calligraphy: Exploring the potential of bioluminescent bacteria in calligraphy using genetic engineering

Horizontal gene transfer is a powerful tool in biotechnology and genetic engineering, enabling the modification of genetic material directly from one organism to another.

The technique of horizontal gene transfer, which involves the direct exchange of genetic material between bacteria, was used as a mechanism of information exchange in the bio-writing experiment. This allowed for the insertion of the gene that produces green fluorescent protein into a strain of E. coli, making the bacteria bioluminescent. These bioluminescent bacteria were then used as a form of bio-ink for calligraphic exercises on petri dishes, which were later exposed to ultraviolet light for visualization.

Bioart and wet biology techniques

In his latest project, Bio-rescrituras, Said Dokins delves into the fascinating world of the human microbiome, using bioart as a medium to explore the dynamic interactions between the human body and its microorganisms.

Collaborators of the Bioart project:

Laboratory, Microbiology, and Genetic Engineering. Research Professors from the TEC de Monterrey Campus Querétaro:

Dr. Aurea Ramírez. Food Industry Engineer with specialization in Food Science.

Dr. Carmen González. Pharmaceutical Chemist with specialization in Molecular Biology.

Dr. Paola Angulo. Doctor of Science with specialization in Plant Biotechnology.

Camera, Mapping and Sound:

Leonardo Luna: Photographer.

Roberto Palma. Immersive Artist.

Daniel Arp: Sound Producer.

Checkout another projects by Said Dokins