Dasha Plesen’s work transcends the traditional boundaries of both science and art, blending the two to create striking bacterial compositions. Her process involves introducing various bacteria and organisms into petri dishes, where they interact with unexpected additions like fluffy balls, sugars, and sprinkles. These elements disrupt natural growth patterns, resulting in vivid shades, fuzzy textures, and organic, alien-like forms. Through this synthesis, Plesen challenges our perception of beauty, drawing attention to the microscopic worlds we often overlook.
This passion for merging science and art stemmed from a childhood fascination with medical aesthetics, from lab equipment to the intricacies of biology. Plesen views her work as a collaboration between the physical and the metaphysical, where ancient traditions meet modern science, representing a universal connection between creation, spirituality, and chemistry. Her compositions reflect the constant tension between order and chaos, resulting in creations that feel both natural and otherworldly.
The stunning colors in Plesen’s work are achieved by introducing pigments that interact with the bacterial cultures in fascinating ways. Some bacteria even absorb and transform these pigments, creating gradients and layers of color that resemble natural, yet surreal landscapes. For her, the process is like working with a living, breathing Photoshop, but with the added dimension of touch, smell, and an intimate connection to the material.
Plesen’s ideal working environment is just as unique as her art. She envisions a semi-laboratory, semi-farmhouse space on an island, surrounded by water and jungles. This environment would mix elements of nature with the clinical precision needed for her mold cultivation, balancing the Faustian and Robinson Crusoe-esque aesthetics she admires. However, when working on precise bacterial growth for brands, her process becomes more sterile and technical, often requiring work in a laboratory to cultivate specific organisms like Streptococcus or Bacillus.
For Plesen, the joy lies not in the end result, but in the reactions her work evokes. She thrives on the discovery, the conversations with her followers, customers, and collaborators. Whether she’s working with major brands like Vogue Russia or Levi’s, or developing her own textile designs, she approaches every project as an opportunity for creative experimentation and discovery. The excitement she feels while packaging and sharing her work is a testament to the joy she finds in the artistic process.
In a world that can feel politically divided, Plesen emphasizes the importance of social media in connecting people through love, joy, and creativity. Instagram and Facebook serve as her primary platforms for sharing her work, and she believes in the power of these spaces to spread positive energy.
Her greatest source of inspiration? Herself. Plesen meditates deeply, recharging by tapping into what she calls her “Heart Center.” She imagines wires connecting her to the universe and roots anchoring her to the Earth, a practice that fuels her creativity. For her, humans are inherently inspiring, with limitless potential and the ability to create beauty from the smallest, often overlooked, corners of existence.
In Dasha Plesen’s world, art and science are not opposites but companions, collaborating to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
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