BIO[lum] SKIN explored the possibilities and potential effects of augmenting the self and extending the body. We’ve created a novel interaction where we envisioned a future where the human race has undergone a paradigm shift, engaged in a symbiotic relationship with other organisms. Humans have created an inhospitable environment for deep sea creature, not able to survive in the depleted oxygen water anymore, therefore, they have infested human bodies in order to survive. These organisms grow out from the spinal cord as the human sensory receptors are located in the head and are able to release a light by means of a chemical reaction that the new organisms produce.

We focused on the symbiotic relationship between the body and microorganisms and our concept for the skin is to create a light organ as an extension of the human body. The skin was made from Kombucha Skin or a cellulose, produced by millions of tiny bacteria grown in a container of sweet green tea with a bioplastic rib cage with a spine made from agricultural byproducts such as gelatin, and food waste. The spine is rigid but flexible and is therefore ideal for integrating it as an application within the skin to contextualize the ‘organ’ with the body.

We wanted to explore the possibility of hosting living organisms on our ‘second skin’ to illuminate the otherwise invisible symbiosis with other organisms. Here we are addressing the new territories where organisms can live in more visible responsive skins.

BIO[lum] SKIN