Biophilia: an affinity to anything living
Textile Biophilia is a showcase of selected design, research and art projects that offer a glimpse of what is happening in the field of textiles when biology and technology come together.
Curated by Near Now Studio Member Giulia Tomasello, it inspires a conversation between nature and design to explore the potential of growing new materials and developing scenarios using living organisms.
The exhibition includes examples of experimental and innovative projects from around the world that explore a different approach of working with nature.
Dates & Times
16 – 24 February
Launch: 16 February, from 5:00PM
Gallery opening times:
- Sun – Thu: 11:00AM – 6:00PM
- Fri and Sat: 11:00AM – 8:00PM
La Mère, eTextile Summercamp Participants
Featured works
Artificial Matter-Plasia – MUUNA & Jonathan Hamilton
Crystal Textiles Samples, Video (2018)
Crystals are grown on a variety of substrates and handwoven or embroidered. The film aims to articulate the concept through shedding an insight into the process and suggesting human interaction.
Bio Conductive Skin – Giulia Tomasello
Conductive kombucha sample (2016-ongoing)
Exploring the potential for augmenting living tissue with electronic components and conductive materials to create a new type of ‘second-skin’ interface. Aiming to blur the boundaries between what is human and what is technology.
Biolace, Carole Collet
Biolace – Carole Collet
Prints, video (2012)
Biolace is a speculative design research project which questions the potential role of synthetic biology for future sustainable textile production. Set in the year 2050, Biolace imagines a dystopian scenario where plant systems become multi-purpose organisms that can provide both food and fabrics.
eTextile Crystallography, Melissa Coleman & Rachel Freire
eTextile Crystallography – Melissa Coleman & Rachel Freire
eTextile crystal sample (2017-ongoing)
An ongoing project that explores the idea of growing a luxurious futuristic garment and the aesthetics and practicalities involved. The sample on display is part of the research towards creating this e-textile crystal garment.
FabTextiles – Fabricademy BCN
Bio Textiles Samples (2013-ongoing)
FabTextiles is a Barcelona-based research laboratory that works with new technologies, biology and open source culture applied in the fashion, textile and wearable industry.
Future Flora – Giulia Tomasello
Video (2016)
Future Flora is a harvesting kit designed for women to treat and prevent vaginal infection. The project tackles the experience of growing and nurturing living organisms at home. Awarded the STARTS Prize 2018 by the European Commission.
La Mère – eTextile Summercamp Participants
Conductive Kombucha Samples, Video (2016)
Developing samples of new materials combining textile techniques, technology and nature. The research was put together into a performance called La Mère, after the kombucha mother, a future nature goddess.
Participants: P. Vierne, G. Tomasello, M. Coleman, S. Keune, R. O`Nascimento, C. Marcq, T. Heinzel, E. Giles
Malai, Malai Biomaterials
Malai – Malai Biomaterials
Bio Composite Samples, Print (2019)
Malai is a bio composite material based on Bacterial Cellulose grown on water from mature coconuts and natural fibres from Banana stem, Sisal and Hemp.
Microbiological Textile Futures – Immatters
Video (2018)
A video based on a workshop developed in EnsAD Paris, by Aurélie Mossé in collaboration with the TextileLab Amsterdam of Waag Society, which follows textile design students in their exploration of designing with living organisms.
Pulse Tex – Footfalls & Heartbeats
Knitted optical fibre prototype, video (2018)
Utilising optical fibre technology, light is transmitted through the fibre to skin where mainly arterial blood absorbs the light. As each heart pump increases blood flow, the amount of absorbed colour increases, decreasing the returned light, and allows each heartbeat cycle to be monitored.
The Seedling: A Lived Dialogue Between Textiles, Plants and Myself – Svenja Keune
Video (2015-2019)
This research is a journey. This research aims to connect textiles, plants and people in order to rethink the spaces we live in and the materials that surround us. Furthermore it aims to rethink how we inhabit spaces and how we connect to their materiality.
The Sustainability of Electronic Textiles – Angharad Mclaren, Dorothy Hardy, Rachael Wickenden
Poster (2018)
A team of researchers and lecturers at Nottingham Trent University looked at a wide range of electronic textiles that are available to buy, and studied the way electronics and textiles are currently recycled.
Advanced Textiles Research Group, Nottingham Trent University
About the Curator
Near Now Studio Member Giulia Tomasello is an interaction designer specialized in women’s healthcare combining biotechnology, interactive wearables and innovation. Winner of the STARTS Prize 2018 – Grand Prize of the European Commission honouring innovation in Technology, Industry and Society stimulated by the Arts.
Festival of Science and Curiosity
Textile Biophilia is part of Nottingham's Festival of Science and Curiosity. Bringing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to the heart of Nottingham from 13-20 February 2019.
Visit nottsfosac.co.uk for more information.
Banner image and design by Tauras Stalnionis.
