Wastelands is a playful, yet serious biological art project exploring speculative fiction scenarios and current bioengineering practices applying methanogenic bacteria, archaea and bacteriophage to regulate methane production through anaerobic degradation. This biological art project speculates on a future 500 years from now when humans are using the biotechnology to create biogas, fueling the world with only our waste—excrement, methanogens and viruses—the key ingredients for the production of methane biogas. Although practiced for decades, interest in anaerobic fermentation has only recently focused on its use in the economic recovery of fuel gas from industrial and agricultural surpluses. However, this technological drive does not challenge or change the deeper issues around the industrialization of animal agriculture, but rather it re-enforces the same vision of utilitarianism where large-scale efficient monoculture production is manifested through the labor of living beings.

Credits

Artist, project concept, design, photography, sculpture, and biotechnological engineering: Tagny Duff

Scientific consultation and collaboration with Dr. Dana Kirk  

Additional research collaboration with Sylvain Moineau Labs at University de Laval.

Time Traveler and Cosmos bioplastic sculptures, concept and design by Tagny Duff in collaboration with WhiteFeather Hunter.

WhiteFeather Hunter and Courtney Books independently conducted the research, development, and protocol for the bioplastic material.

Researched and produced in collaboration with Bridge Artist Residency Program and ADREC at Michigan State University in 2018-2019 with the support of Adam Brown.

Exhibited at the MSU broad Museum in 2019 as part of the MATTER(S) matter(s), Curated by Jens Hauser and Steven Bridges. 

Awarded honorary mention at Prix Ars Electronica and nominated for a STARTS prize 2019.