L O   L A M E N T O

Lo Lamento was produced in collaboration with synthetic biologists Dr Bernardo Pollak and Dr Anton Kan (University of Cambridge) working with the bioluminescent bacteria – Photobacterium kishitanni. The garment was autoclaved and coated with agar substrate, sea water, LB liquid, LSW 70 solid media (containing tryptone, yeast extract, salt and sea salt) and 70% sea water.  We then inoculated the garment with Photobacterium kishitanni, and left the installation overnight for 10-15 hours. In the morning, the bacterial garment and orbs glowed brightly  – the bacteria biologically lighting the material.

This piece poses questions as to the possibilities of biological wearable technology as a sustainable fashion practice, as well as the notion of a bacterially-centred or at least questioning of a human-cenred design approach – when viewed through the lens of new materialist philosophy.