Probiotic Drawings and Reconstructed Spaces

Mia-Violet Leech

Summary
Final work

Mia (1997) is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer unrestricted by a medium. She is driven mainly by humans' disruptive interactions with nature and in helping others through relevant sensory communication. Advancements in science, technology, and materials excite Mia into innovative and varied design practice. She thrives at research-based projects deconstructing environmental and social issues.

Mia (1997) is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer unrestricted by a medium. She is driven mainl...

This year has consisted of internal reflections and adaptations. For my final year, I have created a varied body of work exploring identity, ecology, and place.

I'm sharing two for the grad show. My final project first and my first project last.

Loss/Lost - An exploration into the ephemeral, my fleeting visit:

The project was process-heavy, exploring my sense of belonging to a place and how I could leave myself thereafter moving. I looked at my materials and questioned why are they permanent? Why should they outlive me? If I leave them here will they cause harm in my place? Could I create something that gives back to the land instead of taking?

Research led me to create a probiotic biocomposite made from agar, glycerine, lactobacillus, wildflower seeds, activated charcoal, and foraged local wildflowers. The project is initial stages of material research and or speculative design.

In theory, the lactobacillus will break down/eat the sugars to feed itself and then break down food for the plants to help them grow quicker. The activated charcoal acts as a detoxifier for humans' oxygen and water. It also helps rid soil of impurities. The seeds will grow in my place. I’m becoming a wildflower in the forest. The material is considerate and respectful to the ecosystem that supported and nurtured me into who I am.

In-home together:

During the bleak winter lockdown, I leaned on technology to help me feel connected to others until it no longer did. I wanted to create an alternate reality, bringing others' spaces into my space to feel closer to people.

They were collaborative projects, images taken and shared with me that the participant had chosen. Their narrative shared by them and the models renders constructed by me. Erwan's Room is an audio-video piece to imagine his lockdown experience through looking and listening. A student who had completed his second and third year from the same room. The audio was shared with me in April 2020 and the model in February 2021. Both very different emotional states and attitudes to the lived experience at those points in time.