Live Cyanobacteria to Be Exhibited in Musuem
Living cyanobacteria will be displayed as part of the exhibition 3rd nature at Puke Ariki in New Plymouth. The cyanobacteria has been cultured by artist-scientist Professor Hideo Iwasaki of
Waseda University Japan.
The cyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria, and are ancestors to chloroplasts in plants. A chloroplast captures
energy from the sun, and it is said that cyanobacteria helped to make Earth suitable for life. While on exhibition at
Puke Ariki the cyanobacteria will be growing slowly, over a period of two months. Instead of the sun, the bacteria will
photosynthesise with the light from an animation projected on to them.
The 3rd nature project brings together art, science, technology and indigenous awareness. Artists and collaborators have been in New
Plymouth for two weeks working on a range of projects. The exhibition opens at sunrise (6.28am) on Saturday February
2nd. The opening is part of a three day symposium commencing on Friday February 1st at Owae marae and then moving to the
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki campus. Three projects are exhibited in Pukekura Park.
Registrations are now open for the symposium (for further information go to www.intercreate.org).
Project partners include Creative New Zealand, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki, Te Matahiapo Indigenous
Research Centre, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Puke Ariki.
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