2024 plant, heavy metal, ceramic test tiles
overview / post-fire. (1/2)
pre-fire. (2/2)
Phase 1: Chromium, Copper, Magnesium
Lemna minEr is an environmental art project that utilizes the bioaccumulation capabilities of common duckweed (Lemna minor) to address water contamination by heavy metals, specifically Chromium Oxide and Copper Sulfate. These metals are absorbed by the plant and then used in the creation of ceramic test tiles, with the metals serving as underglaze. The resulting tiles visually represent heavy metal contaminants bioaccumulated by the plant, with gradients indicating the severity of contamination, demonstrating both the proof of principle for bioremediation and its potential use in identifying polluted water bodies.
The project explores the biological properties of Lemna minor, a floating aquatic plant from the Lemnaceae family, known for its ability to absorb and store heavy metals through processes like phytoextraction and phytostabilization. Scientific studies have confirmed duckweedâs significant potential for bioremediation, making it an ideal subject for this environmental intervention.
In addition to its biological focus, Lemna minEr aims to raise awareness about the global water crisis. Drawing from the United Nationsâ 2023 World Water Development Report, the project underscores the urgent need for action, highlighting that 10% of the global population lives in areas experiencing high or critical water stress, and nearly 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Anthropogenic activities contribute significantly to rising levels of heavy metals in the environment, and this project seeks to address that challenge by promoting environmental consciousness.
While the project aims to provide a practical solution for addressing water contamination, the group has acknowledged the limitations of the methodology, for instance, the presence of other heavy metals in the solution can drastically affect the color on the test tiles, making the identification of contamination in water bodies inconsistent.
Phase 2: Iron
(Lemna minEr was initially conceived as a group project during the Spring of 2024 and has since been carried forward by Daniel in the following semester of Fall).
Drawing inspiration from the November 20th, 1988, Chaos episode of The Equinox, which explores the chaotic rotation of Saturnâs moon Hyperion, I was fascinated by how Hyperion can appear both orderly and chaotic. This dualityâwhere Saturnâs gravitational pull maintains Hyperionâs orbit despite its irregular rotationâmotivated me to take the Lemna minEr project in a new direction.
Iâve begun culturing Lemna minor in iron oxide, aiming to transform the plant into a permanent magnet. My goal is to create an installation where this magnetized plant interacts with an electronic circuit featuring a motion sensor that activates an electromagnet. Much like Saturnâs influence on Hyperion, the electromagnet will pull the plant in various ways, altering its movement. The chaos arises from the third oscillation of human interaction: the electromagnet is only activated when the motion sensor detects a presence, introducing an unpredictable, chaotic element to the plantâs behavior, alluding to the erratic orbit of Hyperion.
Lemna minor demonstrates significant bioaccumulation of iron-oxide within just 48 hours of culturing in an iron-oxide solution. However, while the plant accumulates iron, it does not become a permanent magnet, but rather a passive magnet. This is because the iron compounds in the plantâs cells are not magnetized unless exposed to a sufficiently strong magnetic field. While the plant stores the iron-oxide in its cells, the fluid-filled nature of the plantâs living cells prevents the iron compounds from being fixed in place, meaning the cells cannot be magnetized permanently. (For more information on the science of magnetizing cells, see PMC4310825.)
New Directions
The inability to transform the Lemna minor plant into a permanent magnet has redirected the project into two new avenues of exploration:
1. Bioremediation Dynamics & Electromagnetic Sensing
One potential direction is to delve deeper into the dynamics of bioremediation through iron-oxide processes. This includes utilizing electromagnetic sensors to detect weak signals emitted during the bioremediation process.
2. Addressing Water Pollution in Taiwan
Another path is to focus on the water pollution challenges in Taiwan, exacerbated by the rapid development of the semiconductor industry. Heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium, arsenic, lead, and nickel, are major pollutants associated with this industry. Studies suggest that while Lemna minor is capable of bioremediating some of these heavy metals, others accumulate in the silt and sediment of river bodies. This raises significant health concerns, especially given the proximity of these polluted sites to drinking water intake infrastructure. Incorporating bioremediation into this context could highlight its potential as a solution while addressing broader environmental and public health challenges.
Theoretical Framework
As discussed in Order Out of Chaos, Alexandre KoyrĂ© defines the innovation of modern science in terms of âexperimentation.â He states:
âModern science is based on the discovery of a new and specific form of communication with natureâthat is, on the conviction that nature responds to experimental interrogation. How can we define more precisely the experimental dialogue? Experimentation does not mean merely the faithful observation of facts as they occur, nor the mere search for empirical connections between phenomena, but presupposes a systematic interaction between theoretical concepts and observation.â (Ilya Prigogine and Isabelle Stengers, 5).
This perspective inspires the project to embrace a systematic dialogue between theoretical frameworks and practical observation. By maintaining a spirit rooted in chaos theory, the Lemna minEr project merge scientific exploration with artistic critique, fostering a hybrid form of experimentation.
Chaos Theory & The Arrow of Time
Grounded in the principles of chaos theory, the project embraces the inherent unpredictability and interconnectedness of systems. Furthermore, it aligns with the concept of timeâs irreversibility, a foundational idea in thermodynamics. As Order Out of Chaos notes:
âAs for thermodynamics, it is based on the distinction of two types of processes: reversible processes, which are independent of the direction of time, and irreversible processes, which depend on the direction of time.â (Prigogine and Stengers, 12).
This philosophical underpinning not only informs the scientific methodologies employed but also guides the narrative arc of the project. It emphasizes the irreversible and evolving nature of ecological and cultural systems, instilling a sense of urgency, purpose, and drive toward meaningful action.
Conclusion
By situating Lemna minor within the dual contexts of bioremediation dynamics and Taiwanâs water pollution crisis, the project seeks to bridge art and scienceâutilizing science as a logistical foundation and art as a medium for outreach and awareness. This interdisciplinary approach critically examines the pedagogical framework of scientific methodologies, questioning how these parameters are established and interpreted in dialogue.
Through the integration of science and art, the project aspires to craft alternative narratives and experimental frameworks that enrich our understanding of environmental sustainability.
Special thanks to Andy Scarpelli and Felix Horan; The realization of this project would not have been possible without their invaluable supports and contributions.