"Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine."
Ludwig van Beethoven (composer)
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It’s not always easy to decide what you want to do with your life. Certain people choose to make their passion their profession. Others, like Lia Giraud, find a way to mix the two.
A French biologist, she invented a way to bring her love of photography into the laboratory, creating some pretty unusual art in the process.
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Photograph of Lia Giraud. © ITEM 2017.
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Unlike traditional photographs that don’t change over time, her's "grow like plants." How does she do it? Thanks to her Algaegraphie (algae + photography) technique.
Working with a special type of photosensitive micro-algae, she uses specific sources of light to manipulate the simple life form. Gathered together on a flat surface, the algae sprouts into the shape Giraud desires.
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Photograph of Lia Giraud in her lab.
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The green algae is cultivated in petri dishes which, when photographed, serve as frames for the work. The biologist-photographer waits for her desired image to begin to appear before stabilizing the algae through a secret chemical procedure.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to her subjects: she can create portraits, landscapes or still-lifes. Though her themes vary, her pictures always reference the history of photography.
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Lia Giraud, "Algaegraphie Landscape". © Lia Giraud.
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The results are pretty incredible. You’d never guess these images were alive!
Giraud tested more than 1500 varieties of algae before finding the right one. She photographed each, keeping a record of her work. Because the subjects of her photographs are living organisms, they’re destined to constantly evolve and, eventually, pass away. You know what they say: Take a picture! It’ll last longer.
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Lia Giraud, "Algaegraphies". © Lia Giraud.
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Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine.
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Ludwig van Beethoven (composer)
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Photograph of Lia Giraud’s "Algaegraphies". © cuk.ch.
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Which Northern Renaissance painter created The Arnolfini Portrait
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Contact Co-Founders Coline and Jean at hello@artips.co.
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