Anna Dumitriu Blog

7th January 2024

Fragile Microbiome (2024) is a large scale, wall-sized, hand-felted artwork which is embroidered and beaded to represent our intestinal microbiome, the lining of the gut and the rich communities of bacteria that live inside us. It is impregnated with their DNA. The piece also contains bilirubin and biliverdin, two bile pigments which combine to give […]

2nd September 2020

Unruly Objects is a series of closely connected projects exploring the conservation of biological media and BioArt, and its inclusion in museum collections. Unruly Objects and Biological Conservation Unruly Objects and Biological Conservation (2020 onwards) is a collaboration with the Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art at The University of West Attica […]

31st March 2020

“Biotechnology from the Blue Flower” by Anna Dumitriu and Alex May explores the cultural history and morphology of the chicory plant and investigates how new plant breeding methods such as CRISPR gene editing can be used to create future healthcare and food benefits. Chicory inspired the idea of the Blue Flower in German Romanticism, and […]

29th March 2023

“ArchaeaBot: A Post Climate Change, Post Singularity Life-form” (2018-19) is an underwater robotic installation by Anna Dumitriu and Alex May that explores what ‘life’ might mean in a post-singularity and post-climate change future. Based on new research on archaea (a group of unicellular micro-organisms believed to be the oldest form of life on earth adapted […]

31st March 2020

“Physic-AI Garden” takes the form of stunning and dynamic digital garden, where beautiful virtual plants and fungi grow and interact with each other and with audiences. The plants each represent different drugs and the garden grows according to what drugs work well together and what drugs interact negatively or cause side effects. Audiences can ‘plant’ […]

31st August 2023

Wood Spirit – Amber Acid (2023) is a commission in the “Fermenting Futures” series that takes the form of a sculptural necklace which tells the story of cutting-edge biotechnology research to produce sustainable carbon neutral nylon fabric via a yeast known as Pichia pastoris that has been modified to be able to feed on a […]

17th February 2025

This artwork explores the epigenetic impact of violence, conflict and famine with a focus on intergenerational trauma, and food as a form of comfort during times of conflict, in the context of “postmemory”. The team comprising Anna Dumitriu, Professor of War and Society, Rachel Kerr, and curator Cécile Bourne-Farrell from the Department of War Studies […]

28th March 2020

“Cyberspecies Proximity” (2020) explores what it will mean to share our sidewalks, elevators and transport systems in close proximity with mobile intelligent robots. Anna Dumitriu and Alex May undertook a STARTS Residency to develop their explorations of robotic movement through an in depth collaboration with the Human Robot Co-Mobility project led by the New Technologies […]

27th March 2020

“Susceptible” (2020) is a data-driven interactive digital artwork by Anna Dumitriu and Alex May based on cutting-edge research from CRyPTIC, an international consortium led by the University of Oxford. CRyPTIC’s research analysed thousands of images of the tuberculosis (TB) bacteria growing in the presence of different antibiotics. Researchers then combined that data with information about […]

27th March 2020

“Shielding” explores the impact of the COVID-19 quarantine on women facing domestic abuse and the paradoxical meaning of home as shelter. News stories around the world have highlighted the significant upsurge in violence and the need for increased support for victims of abuse from both governments and the charity sector, at a time when support […]