Mapping Amsterdam's cultural life with slime-mold

Wednesday June 13, 13:00

The objective of this experimental Bio Data Visualisation workshop is to re-explore and re-map Amsterdam. We will make use of the awesome cognitive skills of slime-mold, discovering new patterns in our little city. You can buy your ticket(s) online.

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Slime mold - Slime mold that we have been growing in the lab. This slime mold is part of the Mold Fight installation in the Paddestoelen Paradijs exhibition. Simone Schoutens

With: Antal Ruhl

Slime-molds

Slime-molds are neither plants nor animals; their development cycle is unique. At the University of West-England, researchers constructed an organic map from agar. After introducing a slime-mold colony to the map, the organism started developing patterns which, surprisingly, aligned with existing transport routes. A similar experiment was conducted in Tokyo and resulted in a near-duplicate of the Tokyo railway network.

The workshop

Pretty soon Mediamatic will be moving shop. Our new home, Mediamatic Fabriek, is located in an old shipping yard, in the midst of tiny canals, residential homes, bike-only paths, and train tracks. It is difficult to get to if you've never been there before. So we figured we'd employ the slime-mold to map out the most efficient and exciting routes to the Fabriek, and include it in a larger network of other cultural hubs in the city. We'll collectively and strategically develop a playground for the slime-mold to grow. We'll do this by creating a living-map with agar and filter paper.

More information

The workshop takes place in Mediamatic Bank on Wednesday afternoon June 13 from 13.00 to 18.00. We encourage participants to bring in own material they'd like to experiment with as well. Tickets are € 25 incl. VAT. You can buy your ticket(s) here. For questions you can contact Deborah Meibergen.