cells
2016 -
live performance
cells (2016-) is a bio-sonic performance that aims to explore a sense of vitalism through the life-like behaviour of fictional cells, inspired by protocells.
All natural life-forms are made of matter, mainly the composition of water and organic compounds. Fueled by the recent studies of artificial cells, protocells which could be semi-living bodies, the boundary between nature and artificiality is getting blurred. In the shape of protocells, it suggests the fundamental mechanism and the complexity of natural life, raising questions about the effect of artificial life on the natural world. The chemical behaviour gives us the insight into vitalism; both living/non-living matter should emerge a sort of identity by the fundamental decision making of their behaviour. This project is an exploration of substance free matter - what vitalism is made of.
This performance demonstrates a microscopic live-painting to trigger dynamic chemical reactions of fictional cells. The behaviour of the cells is analysed and transformed into sounds via computation. The piece comprises both my performance and the natural interaction of the chemical materials. The sell's Through a series of chemical reactions in an audio-visual performance, it demonstrates the diversity of the cell's behaviour.
photo: Hanneke Wetzer, Eungyeong Lee
videography: Eungyeong Lee, Mari Ohno