Project Description
An LED light sculpture to sonify and lumify data sets derived from skin cells that form part of our immune system. These datasets reveal the presence of previously undiscovered cells in our skin and immune system. These are what Latour terms a “Silent Reliance”. They represent a silent reliance responsible for keeping us alive. The Sonification gives voice to this silent reliance. This work was a collaboration with Prof. Muzlifah Haniffa from Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University. Haniffa is a dermatologist pioneering the applications of single cell genomics technologies to understand tissue homeostasis, immunity and disease.
Enquiry Based Research
I spent a lot of time observing experiments and talking with Prof. Hanniffa and her team to explore their work and gain a greater understanding of the processes and experiments involved in generating new knowledge. From this phase of asking questions and investigating, the artwork gradually emerged. I found the datasets fascinating and began exploring subsets of these, then processing them into a manageable form to input into Supercollider and PureData software. From discussion it emerged that the cells, as part of our immune system, were capable of “eating” by taking “bites” out of suspect cells, in order to assess how the body should respond. ‘Phago’ is a term used as a prefix in Latin meaning ‘Eating’ or ‘swallowing’. Phago ultimately comes from the Greek phageîn, which means “to eat, devour.” This is why they are called phagocytes. This concept of phagocytosis was embedded in the sculpture so that the audience experience was like that of being “phagocytosed” by one of the mononuclear phagocytes.
Building The LED Sculptures Structure
Experimenting with multiple LED panels.
Exhibition
Clusters of Differentiation was exhibited as part of the group show “Inside Skin” at the Great North
Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The images below show the artwork being installed, audiences members experiencing the artwork at the opening night and a wider view of the exhibition space featuring the other artists work.
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