Prelab Research

After viewing these sites do you think bacteria might offer alternative dyeing methods that are less toxic? Are you inspired by this potential? What questions or concerns do you have? Based on your major and personal interests, conduct independent research on either the effects of 1) the fashion industry or 2) synthetic inks and paints on environmental systems. Summarize your research.

After viewing theses sites, I definitely think that bacteria offer alternative dyeing methods that are less toxic. As mentioned in the “Scientists Make Bacteria-Dyed Jeans” article, manufacturers have been using chemical process that drew dye from coal or oil. Nowadays, the presence and use of toxic chemicals in textile production, such as sulphur, naphthol, vat dyes, nitrates, acetic acid, and mercury not only have a significant impact on the water resources of the origin of these dyeing companies, but are also very harmful to both the users of the dyed products and the workers to help dye them. In comparison to the traditional chemical process of textile dyeing, bacteria dyeing appears to be a lot more sustainable and healthy. After reading these articles, I am definitely inspired by the concept and very curious as to how I can achieve that by myself in a lab. Despite the many potentials of bacteria dyeing, however, I am curious as to why the traditional dying method of flower pigments are no longer practiced, especially since flowers grow fairly quickly too and is also sustainable.

In term of textile dyeing in fashion industry, I’ve already learned from previous research experience that almost all of the dyeing process for textiles are a form of dyeing method known as synthetic dyeing. Some of the commonly used toxic chemicals in the dyeing process include sulphur, naphthol, vat dyes, nitrates, acetic acid, soaps, enzymes chromium compounds and heavy metals like copper, arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and cobalt and certain auxiliary chemicals. The process of synthetic dyeing is not only harmful to those who wears it, but is especially harmful to those who produces it. The workers of textile dyeing industries often suffer the most as a result. The countries that are being affected by the process of synthetic dyeing are China and India, both of which have rather lose regulations in terms of industrial sustainability and pollution. Additionally, the process of synthetic dyeing does not only consume the undrinkable water, but as well as a large percentage of drinking water in the world, making access to safe drinking water a even bigger issue for those who are already suffering from water shortages.

Prelab Design Inspiration

Did this video change your perception of bacteria? What did you learn? Were you inspired by her art? Do you think bacteria might be a useful medium for art and design (why/why not)?

Normally, when people think of the word bacteria, we would think of the negative connotations the word implies about general health and safety. Before my introduction to bacteria dyeing, I felt very much the same. After watching this video, however, I learned that bacteria is in fact the essence of so many beautiful things in the world. One of which that stunned me the most would be the green and yellow color pigment created by bacteria in Yellow Stone National Park. By getting to know and understand the process of her work, I feel a lot more safe and confident that bacteria is not only something that can be harmful, but more importantly something that can be utilized in favor of human needs and development. Finally, I do think bacteria is not only a useful medium of art and design, but also just a beginning to the journey of sustainable dyeing. Originally, when I was first introduced to bacteria dyeing in class, I though the color pallet was very limited in comparison to that of traditional dyes. After seeing one of her specific illustration of color pallet, however, I learned that this is in fact not the case and that bacteria dyeing can be just as effective and beautiful as the synthetic dyes.

After viewing these links, what do you think of bacteria as an artistic media? Are you excited to try it yourself? Do you sense a difference in color (more variation etc.) between what is found naturally in bacteria, as opposed to synthetic colors? Consider our class discussions on Long Life Design. How might painting with bacteria relate to this theme?

What is amazing about using bacteria as an artistic media is that it is capable of changing over a short amount of time and that it has a distinctive relationship with the nature. As an artistic media, I can definitely see it being used in works that seek for the similar effects or works that want to illustrate some kind of transition over time. Using bacteria, artists no longer have to created several images to show transition over time, but can instead do all that with one bacteria painting. An example would be the capturing of changing seasons by painting trees and leaves and wait for the bacteria to transform overtime. The biggest difference I noticed between synthetic and bacteria colors is that bacteria colors are much brighter and vibrant, whereas synthetic colors may offer more options in terms of lightness and darkness. Judging bacteria painting with the Long Life Design Criteria, I believe the concept already have a good start by demonstration qualities 3. Sales, 4. Manufacturing, 8. User, 9. Environment, and 10. Design. At this stage, I believe the majority of bacteria painters most likely have a strong will to convey their believes in sustainability through beauty. I believe most of them are passionate about what they do and are eager to let their artworks speak to the users/viewers of their creations.

Prelab Design 

Artist Statement: – Why these designs? How does it relate to themes of our class and your work at Parsons? – Are there particular artworks, methods, or artists that influenced your choice? – How does the medium influence your design choice?  What kind of image would you like to make with bacteria and why?

I chose these particular designs for three reasons. Firstly, because bacteria painting is something that will transform over time, I wanted to create art based on sceneries that are also capable of transforming over time. The night sky as we know for example, have many shades of color and is capable of transforming depending on the time of day, weather, and etcetera. The same concept of changing color overtime also applies to the tree and Earth designs. Secondly, since bacteria painting is about sustainability and is derived from nature as living organisms, I thought the focus or subject of my pieces should speak to that aspect of the material. Therefore, three out of all four subways are related to nature. Finally, I wanted to include the line design to see wether bacteria painting is something that can be executed with precision to better understand the method, because without the ability to be executed with some degree of precision, it may be a difficult material to work with in terms of actually painting and creating designs professionally. My main source of inspiration came from the speaker Maria Peñil Cobo of the “Bacteria is Beautiful” TEDTalk video. For some of her work, I noticed that she kept the outline of her subject clear yet leaving certain details out, letting the pattern and texture of bacterias to speak for itself and demonstrate beauty the way it is ought to be. Personally, I think this is a very important concept when it comes to painting. Therefore for this project, I will try my best at working with instead of against the nature of this medium, and letting the distinctiveness of this medium speak for itself by trying to keep my design simple and straightforward. My design will also include the use of bright and contrasting colors to demonstrate that quality of bacteria paint. The images I would like to make are Earth, Night Sky, Trees, and Abstract Line Designs.

Design Sketches