The hands-on workshop is open to participants with diverse backgrounds (students, artists, designers). Its starting point is the observation of cellulose producing bacteria as inhabitant of multiple ecosystems: non-human environments; the laboratory; the artist’s studio. Participants will learn how to obtain microbial cellulose using laboratory protocols and DIY techniques.

Microbial cellulose is a polymer produced by a variety of microorganisms which grows into a thick three-dimentional material which may resemle skin and bodily matter. I have used microbial cellulose in various artworks: in my Skin Studies, as featureless prosthetics in Eingeweide, and also genetically engineered cellulose-producing bacteria in Semina aeternitatis.

The workshos has a transdisciplinary approach that combines creativity and aestetics with bioscientific insights through hands-on work. The method invites participants to develop innovative ideas and learn about this highly interesing material. We will review current research, existing applications, and formulate possible projects. The conversation will also critically address sustainability, ethics, and aesthetics of working with living organisms. Workshop participants will receive a reading list, recipes I’ve developed, and a culture starter.

Since 2018 I have given the worshop across art and research venues, including Kersnikova (Ljubljiana), CHEMARTS /New Silk Aalto University (Helsinki), Art & Science Café/ Art laboratory Berlin, Bioart Society (Helsinki). Interested? please drop me a line

Some of my writings that emerged from the work with microbial cellulose:
· Conditions for experiential knowledge exchange in collaborative research across the sciences and creative practice,Groth C, M Pevere, K Niinimäki, P Kääriäinen P, CoDesign, 2020, 16:4, 328-344
· Semina Aeternitatis: Using Bacteria for Tangible Interaction with Data, Alistar, M, M Pevere. Extended Abstracts of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI EA ’20). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 1–13
· Skin Studies: Leaking. Mattering. In: Uncanny Interfaces, Haensch, K, L Nelke, M Planitzer (eds). Hamburg: Textem 2019

Picture credits: Piritta Putto, Miha Godec / Kersnikova, Utpala Sharma.
Microscope pictures by Margherita Pevere