In 2023, I developed an autistic hyperobsession with the field of Synthetic Biological Intelligence. Initially I intended the project to become a work, then an exhibition, but my ambitions quickly outgrew what I could feasibly achieve within my means. Layer:14 (which is still a working title) turned into a two-year long tinkering activity and creative process. Even though the work I've done has not (yet) materialized as a 'work,' I consider it one of the most defining steps in my practice, both from a production and conceptual standpoint.
Much of the project revolved around fabrication of prototype cortical organoid culture devices and bioprinting an anime figurine of an OS-tan I designed. I presented a part of my process during my talk at Bioclub Tokyo, focusing on the custom bioprinter I developed by modifying an Ender 3. (FRESH-method hydrogel formulas and CAD, BOM, and Klipper files will be released some day - email if interested.) My in-depth research into the field of SBI led me to design and fabricate a heated and humidified, computer-controlled incubator for mammalian cell culture, a custom microelectrode array complete with an automated media supply fluidics system, supported by a peristaltic pump array. The fabrication involved custom-machined CNC aluminum parts alongside a 3D-printed sheet metal bending jig, an absurd amount of FDM and SLA 3D prints, custom aluminum-based PCB, acrylic bending, and a whole lot of code, CAD and Aliexpress lurking. Some failed attempts at fabricating MEAs and microfluidic systems involved iterative designs of indium tin oxide coated glass photo-etching using hydrochloric acid, and an experimental method of fabricating microfluidic chips using heat-bonded laser-etched acrylic.
In early phases of the project, I designed and drew the previously mentioned OS-tan for a biocomputer, and a visual identity for an imaginary personal biocomputer manufacturer. With Jenn Leung, we tested animating the OS-tan in Unreal Engine using prerecorded neural signals with the help of Daniel Niels.
