"Glowing Attraction", 2019 - 2020
Direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works
1
In the project “Glowing Attraction”, bioluminescent algae are the main protagonists. Firstly mentioned in Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand leagues under the sea” (1872) the phenomenon of a ‘milky sea’ appeared to the sailors of the Nautilus leaving them fascinated with the unexpected light phenomenon. The reasoning behind the reaction of the algae isn’t definitely explained but now documented through diverse modern mediums such as satellite photos.
In the context of analogue photography though the algae can unfold their expressionist potential: By shaking test tubes, where Djourina had cultivated the unicellular organisms in, the necessary impulse is given to observe the algae producing light.
Including a performative gesture, the glow of the algae is captured on the photosensitive paper, sometimes evolving into an explosion of yellowish, orange and red color blurs exchanging their size to a sunlike expression: The aesthetic result strongly resembles a glance into a source of energy leaving black spots behind because our sensual limitations aren’t able to perceive this strength.
Additionally bioluminescence can be found in the human body as well hidden from the bare eye as the floating algae carpets in the sea.
2
3
4
7
Image index
1 Glowing Attraction, 2019, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 96 x 76 cm;
Exhibition: Cette Question qui vous Brûle les Lèvres, curated by Marie DuPasquier with Jacques-Henri Sennwald and CAN team, CAN Neuchâtel, CHE, exhibition photos: Sebastien Verdon
2 Test tube with the algae in non-glowing state by day light (from the Algensammlung Universität Göttingen)
3 Glowing Attraction, 2020, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 40 x 30 cm
4 3 Glowing Attraction, 2020, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 40 x 30 cm;
Exhibition view: MAGIA NATURALIS - Bignia Wehrli, Marta Djourina, L, 2020, organised by Boyan Manchev and Vesselina Sarieva, Sariev Gallery, Plovdiv, photo: Vanessa Popova
5 - 6 Glowing Attraction, 2019, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 40 x 30 cm
7 Glowing Attraction, 2019, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 96 x 76 cm;
Exhibition: Cette Question qui vous Brûle les Lèvres, curated by Marie DuPasquier with Jacques-Henri Sennwald and CAN team, CAN Neuchâtel, CHE, exhibition photos: Sebastien Verdon
"Glowing Attraction", 2019 - 2020
Direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works
1
In the project “Glowing Attraction”, bioluminescent algae are the main protagonists. Firstly mentioned in Jules Verne’s “Twenty Thousand leagues under the sea” (1872) the phenomenon of a ‘milky sea’ appeared to the sailors of the Nautilus leaving them fascinated with the unexpected light phenomenon. The reasoning behind the reaction of the algae isn’t definitely explained but now documented through diverse modern mediums such as satellite photos.
In the context of analogue photography though the algae can unfold their expressionist potential: By shaking test tubes, where Djourina had cultivated the unicellular organisms in, the necessary impulse is given to observe the algae producing light.
Including a performative gesture, the glow of the algae is captured on the photosensitive paper, sometimes evolving into an explosion of yellowish, orange and red color blurs exchanging their size to a sunlike expression: The aesthetic result strongly resembles a glance into a source of energy leaving black spots behind because our sensual limitations aren’t able to perceive this strength.
Additionally bioluminescence can be found in the human body as well hidden from the bare eye as the floating algae carpets in the sea.
2
3
4
7
Image index
1 Glowing Attraction, 2019, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 96 x 76 cm;
Exhibition: Cette Question qui vous Brûle les Lèvres, curated by Marie DuPasquier with Jacques-Henri Sennwald and CAN team, CAN Neuchâtel, CHE, exhibition photos: Sebastien Verdon
2 Test tube with the algae in non-glowing state by day light (from the Algensammlung Universität Göttingen)
3 Glowing Attraction, 2020, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 40 x 30 cm
4 3 Glowing Attraction, 2020, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 40 x 30 cm;
Exhibition view: MAGIA NATURALIS - Bignia Wehrli, Marta Djourina, L, 2020, organised by Boyan Manchev and Vesselina Sarieva, Sariev Gallery, Plovdiv, photo: Vanessa Popova
5 - 6 Glowing Attraction, 2019, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 40 x 30 cm
7 Glowing Attraction, 2019, direct exposure on analogue photo paper with bioluminescent algae,
series of unique works, 96 x 76 cm;
Exhibition: Cette Question qui vous Brûle les Lèvres, curated by Marie DuPasquier with Jacques-Henri Sennwald and CAN team, CAN Neuchâtel, CHE, exhibition photos: Sebastien Verdon