Alex May was recently invited to speak at the Sapienza University of Rome as part of the “Sensibilizzazione con SAGacia25” series. The event, titled “Economies and [Microbial] Ecosystems“, was held at the Department of Chemistry.
Addressing an audience of researchers, students, and art enthusiasts, May presented several of his key artworks that explore the creative possibilities of translating biological data into sound and light. He discussed how these projects make complex scientific concepts tangible and accessible to a wider public, fostering a dialogue between the worlds of art and science.
Central to his talk were the artworks Sequence Music and Fermenting Futures. In Sequence Music, May described his innovative process of using a portable minION DNA sequencer to generate musical compositions in real-time, transforming the fundamental building blocks of life into intricate soundscapes. He also elaborated on the collaborative project Fermenting Futures, a series of works with renowned bio-artist Anna Dumitriu that delves into the fascinating world of yeast biotechnology. A highlight is the ‘yeast duet’, a piece that sonifies the DNA of a genetically modified yeast.
May also reflected on his major public commission, Flow State, for the Francis Crick Institute in London. He detailed the innovative “DNA clock” on the reverse of the main sculpture, a mesmerising light installation driven by the genomic sequence of a model yeast organism, visually representing the unseen processes at the heart of genetic research.
The event in Rome provided a valuable platform to discuss the intersection of art, technology, and the life sciences, a core focus of Alex May’s artistic practice. His presentation underscored the powerful role that artistic interpretation can play in exploring and understanding the profound impact of scientific discovery on our world.
Leave a Reply