This explorative research project investigates the creative potential of pigment producing bacteria as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-reliant dye and colour systems.
Investigative research focused on microbial pigments begins with Streptomyces Coelicolor M520.
The wild strain of this micro-organism naturally produces both a blue pigment, Actinorhodin and a red pigment, Undecylprodigiosin. This particular strain, M520, has been engineered so the blue pigment production is suppressed and the red pigment production has been amplified.
This explorative research project investigates the creative potential of pigment producing bacteria as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-reliant dye and colour systems.
Investigative research focused on microbial pigments begins with Streptomyces Coelicolor M520.
The wild strain of this micro-organism naturally produces both a blue pigment, Actinorhodin and a red pigment, Undecylprodigiosin. This particular strain, M520, has been engineered so the blue pigment production is suppressed and the red pigment production has been amplified.
In order to fully engage with any newly discovered colour system, a depth of knowledge must be acquired.
Especially in the case of a living colour system, which has an agenda, a rhythm and life cycle of it's own, where it pays no attention to the desires of any designer or scientist wishing to engage with it, regardless of any collaborative intention.
This knowledge acquisition took place in the Bio Lab, through weeks of growing this beautiful, naturally pigment producing bacteria both in solid state, petri-, and in liquid cultures. An intense period of study, the product of long days in the lab and hundred of growth cycles examined, this design researcher feels she has now gathered a deeper understanding of this strain of Streptomyces Coelicolor.
Poetically the name Coelicolor means the colour of the heavens or the sky, appropriate when the main colour produced is blue, however since this particular strain produced a beautiful selection of reds, oranges, pinks and purples, perhaps the additional term 'Sunset Hues' is fitting.
