PUBLIC TALK: Lipid Membranes of the Past and Future

Life in all its diversity, as we know it today, could not have developed without an organic membrane. All living cells are surrounded by this outer wall or soft boundary. This talk presents an artistic and multidisciplinary perspective on the organic membrane and its potential as a media of expression. This talk is primarily focused on the description of two transdisciplinary artworks within the fields of microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and media art. The first project, Heliotropika (2011), is an installation that creates an interface between humans and cyanobacteria. The themes related to the conception and development of this project include: the photosynthetic membrane, the visualization of organic processes in real-time, and the potential interfacing with living cells.

The second work, Fat between two worlds (2013), is a project that explores the biophysics of cholesterol and phospholipids to create microstructures that minutely resemble living cells. This part of the paper includes subjects such as the versatile nature of lipids, the artificial membrane, and the interaction between biological molecules (lipids, DNA, sugar).

Together with interactive installations, Juan M. Castro has been working in real-time visualization of organic information and the creation of hybrid architectures with bio-materials. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he is currently living and working in Tokyo, Japan. In 2008 he founded “Biodynamic geometries” as a unit for experimental creative projects. Since its inception it has developed an exhibition program of biomedia art installations. As a postdoctoral research fellow, he is investigating the impact of “synthetic ecosystems” and “interkingdom communication” upon artistic practice in the laboratory for molecular cell network—department of electrical engineering and biology— at Waseda University.