The Science Gallery presents Bio_Res_Crituras by Said Dokins during the International Book Fair in Monterrey.

Innovation Hub: Science Gallery Monterrey's Role in the Global Network

As part of the International Book Fair in Monterrey, the exhibition 'Bio_Res_Writings' by visual artist Said Dokins is presented in collaboration with Science Gallery and Tec de Monterrey under the School of Architecture, Arts, and Design and the Arts and Culture Initiative. This exhibition takes place from the 7th to the 15th in the Science Gallery booth at FIL Monterrey 2023, aiming to promote the intersection of science and art. Science Gallery Monterrey is the latest addition to The Global Science Gallery Network, a collaboration of leading international universities dedicated to public engagement through interdisciplinary art and science initiatives. To date, members of Science Gallery have collectively invested over 185 million euros in the network. Based on the model initiated by Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, Science Gallery Monterrey fosters new collaborations between scientists and artists, develops innovative educational programs, and enhances research excellence. Said Dokins' Bio_Res_Writings exhibition is part of this grand initiative by Science Gallery, delving into the fascinating world of microbiota, which the artist considers as intrinsic to our biocultural heritage linked to diet, environment, and customs.

The art of writing with bacteria. Explore the transformation of bacteria into biotink and its role in creating unique artworks through genetic transfer.

The Artistic Project: The Bio_Res_Crituras  Exhibition

Bio-res_writings is a project that recognizes the human body as permeable to advances in the study of the human microbiome, where tissues, cells, genes, bacteria, enzymes, or semi-living entities appear as interactive figures within the body, creating microcellular interactions that correspond to different types of negotiations to perform functions that ultimately constitute, build, and reconstruct the body. The Bio_Res_Writings exhibition consists of four series:

Microbiotic Portraits:

Over 30 meticulous portraits of individuals, with their epidermal microbiota imprinted on Petri dishes and incubated, creating unique portraits reflecting the skin microbiota of each person.

Bacterial Writings:

Said Dokins used non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria to create bacterial inks and execute calligraphic series, resulting in artworks that evolve over the lifespan of the bacteria

Bio Stencils:

Using techniques of microbial inactivation through photochemical reactions to alter the biochemical structure of molecules, the artist applies stencil techniques used in public spaces to culture media, creating shapes and figures through bacterial limitation.

Genetic Transfer and Calligraphy:

The final series introduces horizontal gene transfer, a powerful tool in biotechnology and genetic engineering. It was used to insert genes producing green fluorescent proteins into bacteria, making them biofluorescent. These bacteria became 'biotint' for calligraphic exercises on Petri dishes, exposed to ultraviolet light for visualization.

The exhibition is complemented by a conference with microbiology and art specialists, including Piedad Martínez, the exhibition's curator, Dr. Aurea Ramírez, a collaborator and nutrigenomics specialist, and the artist Said Dokins himself. This unique exhibition aims to expand our horizons, merging science and art in a journey exploring the interconnectedness between microbiota and culture. Credits: • Artwork: Said Dokins. • Microbiology Researchers: Dr. Aurea Ramírez, Dr. Carmen González, and Dr. Paola Angulo. • Photography: Leonardo Luna. • Sound: Daniel Arp. • Curator: Piedad Martinez. • Management and Logistics: Claudia Kleeman, Paola Ochoa, Patricia Prado, and Fernanda Rengifo.