Embedded Files
Result
Result
Introduction
Introduction
Autopoiesis
Autopoiesis
Chilean biologists Maturana and Varela's concept of autopoiesis emerged in the 1970s. Autopoiesis refers to a system capable of producing and maintaining itself by creating its own parts (self-reproduction).
In this project, we chose one material that grows and maintains itself without human interference and made it with an open-source recipe online and tried to make a local version of the recipe.
Reference and Localization
Reference and Localization
Inspired by https://www.instructables.com/Growing-Crystals-on-LEDs-and-ETextiles/, we wanted to display the beauty of crystals by growing them on lights so the light can enable us to see the texture and inner structure of the crystals better.
The localization interpretation we made was to test how 3D spatial form and fabric texture can enrich this crystallization process with the recycled materials we found in the studio.
Process
Process
Workshop
Workshop
Lab Report Document: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rSXn_3McDB8F222F5iaPeAAmDhe4uhee
Mycelium (Mushroom)
Crystal (Potassium alum sulfate/Borax)
3D Fabric
3D Fabric
We found this piece of leftover in the studio and we were interested in its texture. Instead of using it as a canvas, we wanted to utilize the tension in this fabric that can help build a 3D "sculpture" where the crystals can find more layers and structures to develop into.
Sewing the connection parts.
The whole structure's held by the tension of twisting.
We forgot to take a picture of its original look..
Building Circuits
Building Circuits
We initially tried to build a circuit on the surface with copper tape due to its flexibility. However, the tape doesn't go very well with the texture of the fabric and couldn't stay very well. We successfully turned the lights on several times but was very unstable so we gave up on copper tape and decided to use wires instead.
A few more notes:
Direction of the bulb (long leg and short leg).
The random wire I grabbed from the studio has a very bad electrical conductivity. Not all wires are electric wires. Copper tape can make great connection.
Series circuits couldn't, parallel ones could.
Very pitifully forgot to take a picture of the copper version.
5V power input.
Finally, with the lights on:)
Growing Crystals
Growing Crystals
Using the recipe we learned in class, it was very easy and quick to grow our own crystals.
A few more notes:
We needed to pay attention to was to have the temperature high enough to dissolve all the powder.
Since the surface of the LED lights is quite smooth, we glued two starter crystals to the two LEDs to help new crystals grow on them.
Measuring ingredient.
Dyeing. Not very obvious on crystals later.
Soaking the fabric in the solution. (won't hurt the lights as tested)
Activation
Activation
Reflection
Reflection
Challenges
Challenges
Building the circuit was definitely not the point of this assignment but we spent a lot of time tackling with that lol.
About the crystallization itself, the challenge that still wasn't solved in the final result was that the texture of the fabric and the structure of the sculpture wasn't able to enrich the shape or quality of the crystals. They all turned out to be in similar shape and size. To be fair, there were still many interesting differences between each crystal, especially since the internal structure was clear with the light. But we imagined there to be more fragmentary pieces on the fabric which did not happen.
I guess that's the main challenge but also the interesting part of Autopoiesis: You can't fully control or manipulate how the crystals react to the textures and the way they choose to grow.
We were amazed by how Lucas came up with the idea of spraying the solution to create those very tiny crystal pieces that demonstrate a very mineral texture and how it was so easy to achieve.
Lucas's biomaterial work.
Potentials
Potentials
Crystal has huge potential as a biomaterial in terms of its rich texture and how it's easy to make. I think the biggest potential lies in its cooperation with other matters. In addition to external cooperation as how it grows on something, internal cooperation which occurs when it grows around certain objects is also very intriguing.
Moreover, I felt that it would be very interesting to see if we could adjust its structure, pattern and so on. But meanwhile I still enjoy the process where itself decides how to grow without our manipulation though we actually intervened with starter crystals.
I don't understand why I always do research after my own experiments are already done but this time as well... I was so astonished by what people have tried with crystals:
Vase by Lukas Wegwerth, Germany.
Michael Broadbent's Vintage Wine
book, borax, 10.75 x 16.5 x 8 inches, 2024
By Chinese netizen mutuan
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