A Brief Microgeography of London

I was doing other things in London today so I didn't have much time. Consequently, this is a very brief microgeographical  exploration of london. Nevertheless, it does demonstrate a very rich microgeographical landscape that is ripe for exploration.

A lichen on a wall in South Bank. Also the small cracks on the wall's surface are permeated with photosynthetic life

The Uban Cryptobiotic Crust (a complex community of cyanobacteria, moulds and other microbes) on a wall in South Bank. Also a square zone of inhibition caused by something interferring with the UBC. A shadow from a building perhaps diminishing its access to light.

 

A mould embellished poster on the Queen Elizabeh Hall

A mould embellished poster on the Queen Elizabeh Hall

A mould embellished poster on the Queen Elizabeh Hall

The Uban Cryptobiotic Crust (a complex community of cyanobacteria, moulds and other microbes) on a wall in South Bank. Also a very prominent square zone of inhibition caused by something interferring with the UBC. Heat from the light perhaps

A community of photosynthetic microbes on the wall of a dark tunnel. Empowered by a small skylight above it in the otherwise perpetual gloom. 

Serratia: The Painter

Embellished Red Suction Cups 

Shower Curtain Rothko

 Self Portrait: a water colour by Serratia

 

Amongst the many bacteria that I work with,  the naturally occuring red pigmented bacterium Serratia marcescens, has the most unique and most stiking natural aesthetic . In the top two images, it has embellished the otherwise mundane fittings of a damp bathroom and in one case has produced an almost Rothkoesque image. When given watercolours, it will also paint. In the bottom image the red colour is made by many billions of bacterial cells of Serratia. The other colours are traditional  watercolours and the picture is made as Serratia has moved the watercolours around its medium so that in a sense it has painted.    

Living On Vapours

Living on Vapours: A tenacious black mould grows on a chemical store at the University of Surrey. It looks similar to Baudoinia compniacensis ,the mould that thrives on alcohol fumes and consequently grows abundantly on whiskey distillery buildings. As the mould in the photographs  grows nowhere else on the campus, I'm guessing that it too is thriving on invisible fumes of the chemicals stored inside.

 

The Building That Listens: I came across this today, a building that has grown an ear. It drew me to Stelarc's work and as I photographed it I had a strong sense that this hybrid of concrete and biology was actually listeing to me. In reality, this is a perpetually wet area of the building and these conditions have supported the growth of a fungus. and its fruiting body

Obelisk Ecology. A complex microbial ecology on an otherwise lifeless obelisk made from slate. Birds have obviously used this as a perch and their nitrogenous faeces, and the run of from this, underpins this brittle crust of life.  

A message obscured: An ancient ecology of lichens on a gravestone. As if time itself had crystalized onto the stone and obscured a poignant human message.

A Glyph for a Brief Life. This glyph mysteriously appeared within a thin layer of grime on my office window. I think it was made by a nemotode, a microscopic worm, that had somehow gotten onto the window (from a fly perhaps), tried to find better circumstances, but died in the process (from dehydration). A poignant reminder of microscopic life.