Remote Symbiosis

A sign language of micro-organisms and humans.
Explosions of sparkles, fountains of blue smoke and continuous glowing. In the nights and the depths of the ocean an ongoing light spectacle takes place. One protagonist in this show is the firefly squid. The surprisingly intelligent creature employs light signals as a vital means for communication and camouflage. But how does it create this impressive play of light and colours? The natural trick behind it is symbiosis - ‘life together‘ - meaning that two different species take advantage of each other through a regular physical interaction. In the case of the squid the interaction is with luminescent micro-organisms, i.e. bacteria, hosted in its ink sack.



Also many other underwater species produce light, often as a defence mechanism, integrated in a dynamic connection with their surroundings. Algae, unlike the squid, therefore use luciferin molecules and proteins. Under mechanical stimulation they develop an enzymatic reaction emitting a blue-green light. It is presumed that the light here serves to attract fishes which eat up smaller predators of the algae. In a way, this is also a symbiosis, a remote symbiosis between the light emitting algae and the fishes benefiting from their prey indicating signals.

Light vs darkness

In the dark the algae starts go glow
In this project the interplay of symbiosis and light is transferred to the human context. The marine environment of glowing organisms becomes part of a personal environment, taking shape as a para-natural system of algae containing liquids, which at night emit light upon external stimulation. The human host can activate the light through mechanical energy by shaking, blowing through tubes or even walking next to the algae container. To keep the exchange active, however, it is necessary to regularly feed them. Another remote symbiosis, not at the immediate biological level, but still an exchange of help between two species.

The project creates a surrogate nature placed between our 21st century digitised and artificialised living environment and primal natural phenomena. It transmits an understanding of what benefits we can have through the exchange with other creatures and how we can communicate with them even if we don’t speak the same language.