Winner Project of Repariring the Present residency // S+T+ARTS 2022 Awarded for the S+T+Arts Nomination 2023

GEO-LLUM
Reimagine public lighting in green urban areas

(in collaboration with electro-active bacterias)

The project aims to reimagine the role of lighting in public urban spaces with a symbiotic relationship between the artificial and the natural world, focusing on a deeper understanding of the fundamental importance of microorganisms as collaborator in the city.

Geo-Llum functioning prototype in 1:6 scale Sculpture: bronze, bio-resin, copper, wood
MFC: ceramic, glass, cables, ABU (Universal Bio Acumulator) battery to store the electricity gathered from the soil

The artwork consist in a light sculpture that can facilitate different tasks in order to create an autonomous and hybrid performative sculpture based on an electro-active bacteria that produces electricity while decontaminating the soil.

Here below the essential points of interest:

- lighting
- soil decontamination
- free energy / electricity
- rain water collection

Geo-Llum is conceived as an organic and living being, where the role of humans is to take care of it, drawing attention to the different forces that play for its right functioning.

All the parts of Geo-Llum are interconnected and interdependent, gathering and collaborating to create a cycle of energy.

︎ Free energy while
bio-remediating

Photo Credit Derek Lovley

Geobacter metallireducens is a member of the Geobacteraceae, a family of Fe(III)-respiring Delta-proteobacteria that are of interest for their role in cycling of carbon and metals in aquatic sediments and subsurface environments as well as the bioremediation of organic- and metal-contaminated groundwater and the harvesting of electricity from complex organic matter.

This microbe is able to grow on metallic minerals or electrodes, generating electrical energy while eliminating certain pollutant from the soil and water, during its metabolisation.

Photo Credit Derek Lovley

This living microorganism is present in all kind of moist soils but will be inoculated during the prototype exhibition in order to enhance the electricity produced in the Micorbial Fuel Cell battery.

︎ Geo-Llum program

The multidisciplinary aproach happens to be the best way also in the making of the project it self interlacing art, design and science(s).

Disciplines involved:
Art
Microbiology
Electro-chemistry
Bio-electronic Engineering
Bio Design
Ecology
Science of Education

CLICK HERE for more infos (in spanish)

︎ Framework

Akasha Hub Barcelona is the project incubator and official partner.

The project will go hand in hand with Green City Lab during the first bio-remediation pilot program of Barcelona.

The project is hosted by CCCB (Centro de Cultura Contemporanea de Barcelona), Sonar in the frame of S+T+ARTS Residencies, Repairing the Present 2022.

This project has been possible thanks to the collaboration with:

Miguel Alegre
-> 3D Modelling

Abraham Esteve Nuñez from Bioe Group , Imdea Agua and the University of Alcalà de Henares
-> Bio-electro Engineering

Derek Lovley from UMass Amrest
-> Scientific Contributor

Special thanks to: Actilum, Malarko, Kait Hutchison, Carmen Tanaka, Lorenzo Patuzzo, Salvatore Mazza and all the comunity of Akasha Hub.

-> Blog

-> Geo-Llum article CCCB

Milan at MEET

Rome at MAXXI

GEO-LLUMReimagine public lighting in green urban areas

(in collaboration with electro-active bacterias)

GEO-LLUM
Reimagine public lighting in green urban areas