Bacterial

Descartes shaped how we relate to other entities in the natural world by proclaiming Cogito, ergo sum - I think, therefore I am. This leads to the conclusion, that everything that does not think is inferior.
I took this proclamation and changed it to Quae, ergo sum - I relate, therefore I am.
If I am able to relate to other entities, I am.

The work was a showcase of the relationship between me and my bacteria. Over the course of two months I engaged in a relationship with bacteria samples from my skin. I listened, recorded, watched, observed and filmed. I interpreted, and meditated together with and for the bacteria. The work that was created was to convey the essence of the qualities that were central to our relationship: Balance, Reciprocal, Layered, Influential, Interactive, Delicate, Protective. The wearable mobile conveyes interactivity and delicate balance, as well as disbalance, if one moves, the mobile moves, if the mobile moves, it moves the wearer, therefore it is reciprocal. The mobile has the aesthetic of an armor since the skin bacteria are an important element of the humans immune system and protection.

Relating requires one to be with and in groups. That lead me to the question: How much of our identities are formed by groups?

Each human is made up of millions of microbes. What if I took myself and the microbes living on me, to analyse how much of me is shaped by a group? What if I started seeing myself as a group? What if relating to oneself, through the microbes living on our skin, becomes a bridge to value the fragile balance of the distanced natural world? My hypothesis was that if I will have learned to relate to the Group Me, I will be able to relate to the wider synergies.

The work was an experimental research of a relationship and depiction thereof that could be an example to others.

I chose the skin because it is the humans biggest organ, both our protection from the outer world as well the gateway of sensitivity. It is the limbo, the threshold of what is oneself, what is other but also the first contact with the wider synergies.

In collaboration with the bacteria on my skin