Polyzome by

Polyzome

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A sculptural work that explores the interweaving of microbial and macroscopic worldings, “Polyzome” consists of a hand-blown glass ellipsoid containing a microbial polyculture native gathered from the New York City microbiome resting atop a white perforated clay tower, housing grasses.

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Photograph of the sculpture "Polyzome": Two glass beakers of water connected by tubing, one is larger and tear-shaped, only about a quarter full, rests on three ceramic rings, painted yellow, pink, and lavender, the other is smaller, a lopsided sphere, semi-full, and sits on a larger ceramic cone ventilated with many holes; through one small hole sprouts a plant. the tube from the first beaker feeds into one hole, and wires emerging from the ceramic rings feed into two others.
Photograph of of Polyzome taken from the side
Closeup on the fuller glass beaker of Polyzome
Image of Polyzome from a side angle

Polyzome is a sculptural work that explores the interweaving of microbial and macroscopic worldings. The piece consists of a hand-blown glass ellipsoid containing a microbial polyculture native gathered from the New York City microbiome resting atop a white perforated clay tower, housing grasses. “Polyzome” explores the relationship between temporal and spatial boundaries in context of the journey of artistic mediums and organisms, removed from stasis and imprinted with human intentionality; it hopes to integrate nonhuman microorganisms into this process of imprinting, through the culturing of algae and bacteria, who respond both genetically and morphologically to their anthropogenic chambers, as a counternarrative to reductionism and the capitalist fragmentation of ego-based individualism.”—Mamoun Nukumanu

Polyzome appeared in The Gallatin Arts Festival, 2019. Photographs by Veronica Liow.

 
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