Nomination
Quorum Sensing: Skin Flora Signal System project develops DIY approaches for modifying human skin microbiome in order to produce smells that can be easily detected to self-diagnose or prevent diseases. Moreover this project connects three kingdoms in a symbiotic relationship, uniting bacteria, plants, and animals (such as humans). By creating genetically modified skin microbiome bacteria, producing smells of flowers as a response to a trigger like a disease or fever, the project suggests to consider skin microbiome as a terminal or an interface. Some diseases are asymptomatic, but can be detected on a molecular level. The entity or the organ, created as a prototype within the framework of the project, is able to reveal diseases by decoding molecular processes and producing smells that can be detected and identified. In terms of medicine, this system can be considered as a method of diagnostics and self-diagnostics or even disease prevention.
However we can expand this understanding in terms of bio-semiotics and see it as a new, artificially created but nevertheless natural sensing organ with the specific ability to redefine the existing signal system (smells) and to use the familiar sensation (olfactory) to encode and decode the information on a biochemical level.
Credits
Kersnikova Institute (Kapelica Gallery, Biotehna, RAMPA Lab)
Collaborators: Nika Peshekhonova, Kristijan Tkalec, Luka Žagar, Jakob Grčman, Eva Debevec, Nastja Ambrožič, Zvonko Drobnič
Special acknowledgment:
Biotechnical Faculty, Infrastructural Centre (IC), Nina Gunde-Cimerman PhD, Cene Gostinčar PhD, Mojca Matul
Quorum Sensing: Skin Flora Signal System is part of the ART4MED project, and co-funded by
Creative Europe program of the European Union and Ministry of Public Administration of the Republic of Slovenia
Biographies
Helena Nikonole (TR/RU) is a new media artist, independent curator, and educator currently based in Istanbul. Interested in Artificial Intelligence, hybrid art, and bio-semiotics, she explores the potential possibilities and risks of technology to understand the modern technology- and media-determined world. Her works have been exhibited at venues such as ZKM, Ars Electronica, and CTM.
Lucy Ojomoko (RU) is a molecular biologist and artist. She is focused on scientific and artistic research in the field of neuro- and synthetic biology. Her works were devoted to the exploration of intraspecific communication and the study of plasticity limits of living systems. She is author of several publications in peer review journals and has patents.