Presentation:

Opening: Meta_bolus

by Saša Spačal and Mirjan Švagelj with Toby Kiers

20 Feb 2020

We present the installation ‘Meta_bolus’ by Saša Spačal and Mirjan Švagelj. Their installation explores the olfactory world of microscopic living organisms in the soil. Meta_bolus allows you to smell fresh geosmin created on-site in the bioreactor.

Come and smell the rain in this biotechnological installation from 19:00, with an opening speech by Prof. Dr. Toby Kiers.

Join us afterward for an evening full of petrichor, bacteria and their way of life during Odorama: The Smell of Rain at 20:00.

Free Entrance / Facebook

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Installation shot of Meta_bolus - Picture by Karoline Prica

With: Saša Spačal
With:
Saša Spačal, Toby Kiers

Meta_bolus

Meta_bolus exposes the planetary metabolic process as an exchange of certain boluses or doses that define relationships between agents as either beneficial or adverse. The Streptomyces bacteria in the installation emit a seducing geosmin aroma, a single sniff of which can evoke the memory of a forest after rain. The aroma of wet leaves is intertwined with the history of human resistance to antibiotics. In the Anthropocene, agents are immersed in the planetary metabolic flow in which pharmacological doses are asymmetrically exchanged. Humans are no exception and non-selective pharmacological negligence can result in deadly consequences. Can humans smell the rising resistance to antibiotics?

Saša Spačal

Spačal is an artist working at the intersection of living systems research, contemporary and sound art. Her work focuses primarily on the posthuman condition, where human beings exist and act as one of many elements in the ecosystem and not as sovereigns.

Information

Meta_bolus by Saša Spačal and Mirjan Švagelj
Thursday, the 20th of January
Start 19:00, with an opening speech by Dr. Prof. Toby Kiers
Mediamatic Biotoop, Dijksgracht 6, Amsterdam

Free Entrance

“Metabolism circulates and generates novelty in all strata matter/culture.” – Myra Hird

Biotechnological installation ‘Meta_bolus’ exposes the planetary metabolic process as an exchange of certain boluses or doses that define relationships between agents as either beneficial or adverse. The Streptomyces bacteria in the installation emit a seducing geosmin aroma, a single sniff of which can evoke the memory of a forest after rain. The aroma of wet leaves is intertwined with the history of human resistance to antibiotics. In the Anthropocene agents are immersed in the planetary metabolic flow in which pharmacological doses are asymmetrically exchanged. Humans are no exception and our non-selective pharmacological negligence can result in deadly consequences. Can humans smell the rising resistance to antibiotics?

Meta_bolus, 2017
Saša Spačal, Mirjan Švagelj

The program of Kapelica Gallery is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and the Department of Culture of the Municipality of Ljubljana.ordpress.com

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Spačal (left) at the Opening of Meta_bolus - The bottom barrel of Meta_bolus had been filled with soil from right outside Mediamatic. Living things, such as plant seedlings and slugs, still call the soil around them home even though they are now a part of Meta_bolus. An intern observes this lovely occurrence with Spačal.

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At the Opening of Meta_Bolus - An intern observes the mechanism of Meta_bolus. 

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At the Opening of Meta_Bolus - Guests enjoying the opening of Meta_bolus. 

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At the Opening of Meta_Bolus - Spačal (right) provides further context of her work to the guests.

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20-02-2020 Meta_Bolus - At the Opening of Meta_Bolus - We present the installation ‘Meta_bolus’ by Saša Spačal and Mirjan Švagelj.  Meta_bolus embodies the planetary metabolic process as a fragile dynamic of substances in a continuous balancing flow. The installation is a l oving exploration of the smell of rain which is partly caused by the Streptomyces Bacteria that emits the seducing aroma geosmin; a single sniff of which can evoke the memory of a forest after rain. The Streptomyces bacteria also produces antibiotics, therefore the aroma of wet…

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At the Opening of Meta_Bolus - Guests enjoying the opening of Meta_bolus.

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At the Opening of Meta_Bolus - Guest experiencing the smell of geosmin propagated through the receptors and observing, through a magnifying glass, the bacteria in the bioreactor. This creates the second loop of the Meta_bolus, an open one where humans and bacteria interact and actively bridge the inter-species gap. 

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At the Opening of Meta_Bolus - Two of the pieces essential for the functioning of Meta_bolus. On the left, the clear liquid is diluted alcohol which cleans out the system every few minutes, marking the end of a cycle. On the right, distilled water is yellowed by the presence of oxytetracycline antibiotics produced by the Streptomyces rimosus. A guest observes the installation.