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Little somethin'
Swimming blobs driven by micropollutants

2018

   
 

 

Abstract

Little somethin’ features a group of autonomous blobs, somewhat similar to protozoa, that exploit micropollutants to swim. The little pool they inhabit is filled with all sorts of "small molecules" and contaminants including antidepressants, antibiotics, painkillers and synthetic hormones; personal care products (shampoo and cosmetics ingredients) and detergents (laundry powder and dishwashing liquids). A simple, yet versatile, “protometabolism” enables these blobs to move, dance and even self-divide using the contaminants.

Little somethin' requires the viewer to deal with both the unnervingly, life-like behavior of the blobs and the invisible presence of anthropogenic pollutants. It is the intention of the work to reflect upon the worldwide contamination of water; the effects of societal medicines on wildlife; and the unsettling possibilities of the not-yet-born, namely, the emergence of novel metabolisms driven by toxic microwaste.

 

Materials

Pharmaceuticals (amitriptyline, ibuprofen, benzocaine, and "the pill"), shampoo and cosmetics ingredients (sodium dodecyl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate), detergents (linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate), oils (UV filters, flavoring agents), water, glass, acrylic and LED lamps.

 

 

Little somethin’ – Installation images. 1_Tiny autonomous blobs driven by toxic microwaste, 2018. 2_General view of the installation, 2018. © Photos by Juan M. Castro.

 

 

 

 

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Little somethin’ – Installation images. 1_Image of the little pool inhabited by the blobs, 2018. 2_Oily blobs dancing in a micropollutant-rich pool, 2018. 3_A blob before self-division, 2018.4_A swimming blob driven by toxic microwaste, 2018. © Photos by Juan M. Castro.

 

 

Acknowledgements    
Micropollutants research   Maria Weber
    Diego Castilla
    Christoph Seyboldt
Pool design   Cleo Morris
Support   Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Special thanks   Taro Toyota
    David Hyman
    Teresa Lopez
    Takayuki Owaki

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2018 Juan M. Castro. All Rights Reserved.

Any duplication or use of objects such as images, videos, diagrams and texts is not permitted without written agreement.