top of page
Contact Me
BI0xMICR0° (2023)
What if, we can use living organisms as a potential medium to store, represent and display data? Evidently, SD memory cards are known for this function. However, what happens when they cease to function properly?
BI0xMICR0° uses methods of field research and data collection to examine how ‘digital’ data and ‘bacterial-data’ collides to form memory. Digital data collected from various geographical sites are stored into an SD memory card and placed into a petri dish. Physical samples collected from the visited sites are then cultured in the same petri dish to form a ‘biological memory’ of the location. The works raises the question: How do both types of ‘memory’ compete for territory?
> Methodology & Research
Bacterial culture medium is examined in this process to explore how ‘digital’ memory and ‘tangible’ memory collides.
Inspired by the habitual acts of visiting different areas and parts of London, both ‘digital’ and ‘tangible’ data are collected from various geographical sites. Digital, meaning data obtained through photographs, audio recordings and videos; whereas tangible, refers to traces of debris left on the streets. (e.g. ‘soil’, ‘cigarette butts’, ‘trash’ etc.)
The digital data is stored into an individual SD memory card and placed into a petri dish filled with agar jelly. Bacteria from the debris is then cultured in the same petri dish to form a ‘biological memory’ of the location.
In the article: 'International Journal of Immunological Nursing where it states', it states, "Bacteria will be used to share the data instead of pen drive and memory cards. 64 GB memory card will be a thing of past in few next years."
Why SD cards? They are small, delicate, and fragile. Its light weight is almost non-existent. Yet, at the same time, this tiny card is designed for high-capacity memory storage. Similar to petri dishes. They are used to grow microscopic specimens that are too small to be seen from the perspective of human eye. I am intrigued by this contrast in scale, and its contribution to providing us mass information and data. By emphasizing these microscopic traits, I hope to address the innate impulse of biology and technology connecting with all life.
bottom of page