The photo series titled Bacteriograms by Erno-Erik Raitanen, a Finnish-born photographer currently living in London, United Kingdom, focuses on a different kind of selfie. Instead of photographing his own person, the artist turned the lens onto a part of him that is a bit more questionable: his bacteria.
Creating a makeshift lab in his basement, Bacteriograms by Erno-Erik Raitanen was born. He essentially cultivated his own bacteria on film gelatin, which, over a course of a week, would result in the colorful images that make up the photo series. Raitanen reveals, "There were plenty of ideas that I was working through myself while creating these images, like questioning the nature of photographic portraiture and the relation between science and art in photography. For me, the series is as much or even more about the process than it is about the end results."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Microbial Self-portraits
- Opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations between artists and scientists to explore the microscopic world.
- DIY Biotech
- Potential for individuals to create their own biotech projects in a home laboratory setting.
- Art-science Fusion
- Increased interest in blending art and science to create unique and interdisciplinary works.
Where This Applies
- Photography
- Innovative techniques and subject matter can push the boundaries of traditional photography.
- Biotechnology
- New opportunities for individuals to explore their own microbiology and develop projects at home.
- Art and Design
- Opportunities for artists and designers to collaborate with scientists and utilize scientific techniques in their creations.
