sonja bäumel

3.visible membrane I

The visible membrane I shows one outcome of the experiments I did with textile and bacteria. The object displays the fact that there is a reaction from bacteria to textile surfaces and how this could change and play a role in our clothing.

Ten-day internship at the microbiological lab at the Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

I did this course in order to learn more about bacteria; how they grow, I wanted to get to know their behaviour and the scientific methods and techniques used in microbiology. I wanted to perform my work in laboratories cooperating directly with scientists. My aim was to make experiments with bacteria and textiles in order to understand how the (In)visible membrane could work.

I focused on skin bacteria and on my fascination for bacteria growth;

the transformation of invisible skin bacteria on our living body to visible bacteria on a body-external medium. Something which used to be part of our body becomes autonomous and visible because of the better external conditions in the petri-dish.

Observing the body, separated from the context of the living organism, and the human not being aware of this beautiful invisibility, makes me think about our body awareness.

This project started the research of the first and second layer of the (In)visible membrane. I got some very good results from my experiments. One proved that there is a reaction of bacteria to textiles but my research also showed me that it is a long way until finally reaching my goal.