Raewyn Martyn

Biofilm (2018)

20 secSingle channel / Digital Video / Colour / Sound

"Cellulose is found in the cell walls of plants, and in secretions of many organisms including plants, bacteria and some sea invertebrates. This particular cellulose is derived from the descendants of old growth trees in Wisconsin, but sitting in relationship to the work of de Onkruidenier, the cellulose also implicates the ancient sea, using sedimentary mineral pigments local to the geology of the midwest USA, and calcite, a white pigment, found in the Maastrichtian chalk group of rocks throughout Europe. Sedimentary formations of calcite are built by the bodies of ancient “drifters” called coccolithophore, cellulosic planktos circulating in long-gone currents, feeding in the global carbon cycle, building their calcium carbonate shells. They are deposited as biofacts of transition between atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Here they are again transported - to become part of a phantom biofilm located in Wellington, New Zealand - momentarily inhabiting each site during the transition of seasons; the first days of our Northern spring and the last ones of a Southern summer."

Artist's statement

Other works by Raewyn Martyn

CIRCUIT is the
leading voice
for artist moving image
practice
in Aotearoa New Zealand,
distributing works,
critical review and
dialogues
which reflect our unique, contemporary
South Pacific context.