Collaborative Sculptural Practice with éli del.
Bacterial membrane tattooed with sigils, embedding spells for worldly metabolism and holding faith in the gut’s intuition.
They are genetically modified Symbiotic Cultures of yeast and bacteria. This zoogleal mat of living cellulosic tissue, which I began developing in 2019 for a genetic engineering competition, has been modified to lack tannin absorption and include specific genes pertaining to the complete transparency of cellular membranes. It merges millennia-old folkcraft, cutting-edge biotechnology, and the questions of the Divine. When dried, its leathery body is dusted with diatomaceous earth and ceremonial ash to suspend its decomposition.
