“Living Ideas” by Muhannad Shono
Title:
- Living Ideas
Artist(s) and People Involved:
Exhibiting Artist(s):
Symposium:
- ISEA2018: 24th International Symposium on Electronic Art
- More artworks from ISEA2018:
Venue(s):
Medium:
- Film
Art Event Affiliation:
- The Swiss Artistsinlabs Program
Artist Statement:
Muhannad Shono worked within the Drinking Water Microbiology Group, lead by Dr. Frederik Hammes. Based on his exploration of the scientific research on Bacteria he developed his own fictional organism. He compares this organism with LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor), the hypothetical last common ancestor and foundation stone of all organisms. On a metaphorical level his project led to the origins of civilisation. Referring to the creative processes in the arts and in scientific research groups, the artist puts the fictional organism in the context of his artists-in-labs residency: «It’s a behavioural organism that originates from within our internal microbiome, a physical manifestation of a human behaviour or need. It appears to be an organism who’s only purpose or reason for being is the propagation and spread of ideas, this idea rich institute seems to be the ideal environment for this organism to grow.