Fossils, 2019
The origins of life on Earth traces back billions of years to microbes like bacteria. Being invisible to the naked eye, these bacteria left very little traces of their existence. While composed of only of a single cell, bacteria are incredibly sophisticated – they sense their environment, reproduce, swim, and communicate with one another. This coordination can often result in emergent structures that are much larger than an individual. In Fossils, various bacteria species are manipulated to grow into complex patterns that represent the imprints and traces left by the ancient microbial world. The series uses bacteria as active collaborators to reflect on the connection and lineage of living things - from bacteria as ancient ancestors that evolved into humans, to their mutualistic lives with humans in the present.
Fossils was exhibited at Zurcher Gallery in New York City, May 2019.