THE CONCEPT THE PLAN
I need to create a exhibition that is fun and interactive that consists of a series of glow in the dark prints that educate the viewers about organisms that glow in the dark. Concentrating on both deap sea creatures and insects and mushrooms that live on land.
Glow powder can be mixed into plastics to create signs, but it will be cheaper and quicker to print versions.
I want to produce some large scale glow in the dark prints like the one above.
TAEGET AUDIENCE
The exhibition will mainly be aimed at a younger audience, as glow in the dark tends to interest children and young adults more. The language used must be reletavily simple and easy to understand.
WHY WILL THEY GET INVOLVED
In order to make the exhibition fun and more interactive. I will take into account the different inks available which allows you to add hidden elements to a piece of design. Glow in the dark paint and UV inks gives the option for hidden layers.
LAND
SEA
GLOW IN THE DARK ORGANISMS “One of natures great wonders has to be animals and organisms that glow in the dark� HOW DOES IT WORK?
They manage to do this by creating bioluminescent light. Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light emission.
Fireflies, anglerfish, and other creatures produce the chemicals luciferin (a pigment) and luciferase (an enzyme). The luciferin reacts with oxygen to create light. The luciferase acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction, which is sometimes mediated by cofactors such as calcium ions or ATP. The chemical reaction can occur either inside or outside the cell. Bioluminescence occurs in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as fungi, microorganisms and terrestrial animals. Symbiotic organisms carried within larger organisms are also known to bioluminesce.
Bioluminescent phytoplankton Sepiolida
Ninety percent of deep-sea marine life are estimated to produce bioluminescence in one form or another. Most marine light-emission belongs in the blue and green light spectrum, the wavelengths that can transmit through the seawater most easily. However, certain loose-jawed fish emit red and infrared light and the genus Tomopteris emits yellow bioluminescence. Non-marine bioluminescence is less widely distributed. The two best-known forms of land bioluminescence are fireflies and glow worms. Other insects, insect larvae, annelids, arachnids and even species offungi have been noted to possess bioluminescent abilities. Some forms of bioluminescence are brighter (or exist only) at night, following a circadian rhythm.
WHY
DO THEY DO IT ? Attracting mates
The attraction of mates is seen actively in fireflies, which use periodic flashing in their abdomens to attract mates in the mating season. In the marine environment, use of luminescence for mate attraction is well documented only in ostracods, small shrimplike crustaceans. Pheromones may be used for long-distance communication, with bioluminescence used at close range to enable mates to “home in”.
Distraction
Certain squid and small crustaceans use bioluminescent chemical mixtures or bioluminescent bacterial slurries in the same way as many squid use ink. A cloud of luminescent material is expelled, distracting or repelling a potential predator, while the squid or crustacean escapes to safety.
Repelling / Warning
Aposematism is a widely used function of bioluminescence. It is suggested that many firefly larvae glow to repel predators. Millipedes have been shown to glow for the same purpose.
Communication
Communication between bacteria (quorum sensing) plays a role in the regulation of luminesence in many bacterial species. Using small extracellularly secreted molecules, they are able to adapt their behavior to turn on genes for light production only when they are at high cell densities.
Illumination
While most marine bioluminescence is green to blue, the Black Dragonfish produces a red glow. This adaptation allows the fish to see red-pigmented prey, which are normally invisible in the deep ocean environment where red light has been filtered out by the water column. Others use it simply to light the area up to improve visibility in the pitch back, How ever this does make them much more vulnerable.
“I want to show the reasons why these organisms have the ability to glow. And what are the benefits and negatives behind this magnificant ability”
ON LAND MUSHROOMS There are a loads of different organisms that produce this bioluminescent light on land. This varies from insects to mushrooms. They all use this ability for a variety of different reasons. Some use it to repel animals others use it as a mating ritual.
Honey Mushroom
Mycena
“All cells produce some form of bioluminescence within the electromagnetic spectrum, but most are neither visible nor noticeable to the naked eye. Every organism’s bioluminescence is unique in wavelength, duration, timing, and regularity of flashes.” Mycena Luxaeterna These glow in the dark mushrooms are native to a disappearing forest habitat near São Paulo, Brazil. Growing to a mere 8 millimeters tall, these mushrooms, known as Mycena luxaeterna, meaning eternal light mushrooms They emit their eerie neon-green glow 24 hours a day. Although there are an estimated 1.5 million species of fungi on Earth, only 71 species are thought to be bioluminescent.
ON LAND INSECTS Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a “cold light”, with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies. This chemically produced light from the lower abdomen may be yellow, green, or pale-red, with wavelengths from 510 to 670 nanometers. All fireflies glow as larvae. Light in adult beetles was originally thought to be used for similar warning purposes, but now its primary purpose is thought to be used in mate selection. Fireflies are a classic example of an organism that uses bioluminescence for sexual selection. They have a variety of ways to communicate with mates in courtships: steady glows, flashing, and the use of chemical signals unrelated to photic systems.
Bioluminescence serves a different function in lampyrid larvae than it does in adults. It appears to be a warning signal to predators, since many firefly larvae contain chemicals that are distasteful or toxic.
About 2,000 species of firefly are found in temperate and tropical environments. Many are in marshes or in wet, wooded areas where their larvae have abundant sources of food. These larvae emit light and are often called “glowworms”, in particular, in Eurasia. In the Americas, “glow worm” also refers to the related Phengodidae. In many species, both male and female fireflies have the ability to fly, but in some species, females are flightless.
UNDER THE SEA
There are loads of different marine life that glows in the dark. The four fish above are just a selection of the many out there.
Pretty much most of the deep sea life produces some sort of bioluminescent light. Miles down on the sea bed there is hundreds of interesting marine life lurking in the deep. Down here there is no light what so ever. Evolution has allowed the different organisms to produce some sort of light source.
DRAGON FISH
Black Dragonfish produces a red glow. This adaptation allows the fish to see red-pigmented prey, which are normally invisible in the deep ocean environment where red light has been filtered out by the water column.
ANGLER FISH
LANTERN FISH
FLASH LIGHT FISH
This is a strategy termed counterillumination, the lanternfish regulate the brightness of the bluish light emitted by their photophores to match the ambient light level above, which effectively masks the lanternfishes’ silhouette when viewed from below.
The angler fish has a glowing appendage on its head which it uses to attract prey. By bobbing it up and down it gives the impression that it is a smaller bioluminescent creature. When its prey is close enough it attacks.
Two methods are used by different species for controlling light emission, either a shutter-like lid is raised over the organ or the organ is turned downward into a pouch. The light is used for predator avoidance, to attract prey, and for communication
It is assumed that their bioluminescence plays a role in communication, specifically in shoaling and courtship behaviour. The concentration of the photophores on the flanks of the fish also indicate the light’s use as camouflage.
UNDER THE SEA
INVERTEBRATES Sparkling Enope Squid
The sparkling enope squid is found in the Western Pacific ocean at depths of 183 to 366 metres (600–1200 feet) and exhibits bioluminescence. Each tentacle has an organ called a photophore, which produces light. When flashed, these lights attract small fish, on which the squid can then feed. The squid spends the day at depths of several hundred metres, returning to the surface when night falls. The combination of light-sensing and light-producing organs enable it to match its underside to the brightness and colour coming from the surface (counter-illumination), making it hard for predators from below to detect it.
This glowing power creates some what of a deep sea light display. Evolution has created some really interesting creatures of all shapes and sizes.
COPEPOD
Relative to their size, typically about 1mm long, copepods are also the world’s fastest animal, being able to jump at a rate of about a half a meter per second. Their incredible strength, relative to their size, makes them over ten times stronger than any other known species on the planet.
SEA PENS
The comb rows of most planktonic ctenophores produce a rainbow effect, which is not caused by bioluminescence but by the scattering of light as the combs move. Most species are also bioluminescent, but the light is usually blue or green and can only be seen in darkness.
COMB JELLYFISH
Sea pens and pansies use their glow power as a means of communication with conspecifics, e.g., to synchronise spawning or to warn of approach of predators. Its also a way to attract planktonic prey. Whilst also scaring off predators.
PRODUCT RESEARCH
Inspiration &Formats POSTERS
I would like to create an exhibition which displays a series of posters or 1 large scale interactive poster that works in on different dimensions. The poster on the left is a 9 colour screen print which displays a completely different image when the light are out. He has used speed glow in the dark inks to produce the piece and has experiments with different combinations to create different tones which give the image various different shades even when glowing.
BOOKLET
I want to make the exhibition fun to the users so Information could be displayed on different ‘dimensions’. To create some sort of interaction, information could be hidden information. By using invisible glow in the dark inks/paint you are able to print extra text and visuals.
HIDDEN NOCTURNAL ANIMAL BOOK
This is a nice example of a book about nocturnal animals. Whilst in the day light all you can see is the foot prints. But when the lights are out all the relevant information is in clear view. It is this hidden element I want to carry through to my own work.
“By having hidden elements in the designs it will hopefully create more of interest and willingness to engage with the exhibition and learn”
“The exhibition needs to be engaging and also interactive, using UV inks could add another hidden factor. A UV light could be used to find the info.�
Extra Dimensions
TRIPLE VIEW ART
Here is an example of some triple view art it works in 3 different lights. The first image is in day light, the second image shows it under UV light and the third in the dark. It is important to remember how layering up the images will effect the visibility.
BLACKLIGHT
Blacklights are often used to pick up security markings on bank notes and also to view secret messages and information.
HOW CAN YOU MAKE PRINTS THAT GLOW IN THE DARK
GLOW PRINTING METHODS
There are few different ways of making stuff glow in the dark. There are naturally glowing minerals that have this power but this is not the best way! There are quite a few different products on the market that you can choose from. You can make DIY glow paint by mixing Phosphorus powder in with the acrylic, then there are glow in the dark inks and finally ready made glow in the dark paints which are a bit more pricey but probably better.
The powder needs to be mixed with the paint to make it glow in the dark. Different sized particles are needed for different processes.
Inks/Threads/Fibres 5-10 um / 500 mesh Screen Printing/Spray Painting 10-40 um / 300-400mesh Brush Painting/Glass/Plastic 50-85 um / 200 mesh
Glow in the dark powder pigment works by absorbing and releasing light energy, in a continuous cycle. When the surrounding is bright, it absorbs light energy and releases this light energy when it is dark. Glow in the dark Powder can be re-charged many times over just by exposing it to any light source, preferably those with Ultra Violet rays like sunlight or UV (black lights). Glow Powder on its own, has a shelf life of more than 10 years.
INK& PAINT
GLOW IN THE DARK PAINT
GLOW IN THE DARK INKS
*Point to note is that once we mix Glow Powder into Clear Inks or Paints, the mixture is no longer clear but takes on the color of the powder which in most cases is cream.
Pre-mixed Glow in the dark inks which can be used straight from the container are now available for the following printing methods: Silk Screen Printing, Offset Printing, Flexo Printing, RotoGravure Printing and Metal Decoration Printing.
Glow in the Dark Paint is produced by mixing Glow in the Dark Powder with suitable Clear binders, inks or chemicals to form glow in the dark paint. This glow paint can then be applied by using a variety of application methods like silk screen printing, offset printing, brush painting, spray painting, dipping and more.
Glow in the dark inks work by absorbing surrounding light and giving out this light in the dark. Glow in the dark printing inks come in the standard color which is cream under normal light - and glows light green once it is charged and brought in the dark.
WAY FINDING
Glow powder can be mixed into plastics to create signs, but it will be cheaper and quicker to print versions.
GLOW IN THE DARK SIGN-AGE
This can be seen all over the place. It is mainly used as a safety precaution in the event of an emergency, it is also used as a way finding method in buildings and on planes and other methods of public transport. There are tonnes of possibilities available when it comes to glow in the dark products. I need to come up with some sort of way finding system that is interesting, useful and looks sweet.
INSTALATION EXHIBITION
Here is an exhibition I found where UV thread has been used to decorate different rooms in a gallery. Artist Jeongmoon Choi uses light and thread to create amazing installations that play with aspects of perspective and illusion. Reminiscent of something produced at a laser light show, her fields of three-dimensional lines are installed in place and lit with ultraviolet light to create interactive environments.
Three Dimensional UV Thread Installations
LAND AND SEA