Kristen Baumlier

When I was at the Camp Pixelache event in Helsinki, Finland in May I learned about a unique project involving energy and food. On the Pixelache website, it had an article that talked about a past workshop called  Temporary photoElectric Digestopians WorkLab which was aco-creation worklab with research based experimentations

on the transformation of light energy into electric energy with food.   For the workshop, the participants worked with edible materials to create ‘e-tapas’ of different aesthetics and tastes by creating edile solar cells.  The aronia berry was used, which is a sustainable power source for both the body and electronic devices.

I did some research on the worksnhop and project, and learned that PhoEf is the work Bartaku who does projects that explore both the micro and macro realms of Photovoltaics, which is the conversion of light energy into electrical energy.

On the project page of his website, Bartaku writes that, “PhoEf emerges from a personal, transversal flight through the interconnected worlds behind and around photovoltaics; a technology based on A.E. Becquerel’s 1839 observation of the photovoltaic effect… PhoEf  is an attempt to reach, inspire and connect researchers, developers and artists.”  I also found an interesting five minute video of an interview with Bartaku, which helped me better understand the project and how it works.

Solar cells can be expensive, so Bartaku was interested in using simple technology to create cheaper and sustainable solar cells.  For the experiments pigments from plants (which can be natural or synthetic), electrolites, and  graphite or carbon are mixed together and squeezed between glass plates – making a solar cell.

Since you design the cell, which is a temporary photoelectric cell, you can choose the shape, color, and other design elements.   In the workshops that he leads, people make a cell, put it on their tongue, and then turn towards a light.  The result is an electric sensation of the tongue as the energy hits the cell and the tongue.

The goal of the workshops is to share the technology and idea with others who are not familiar with making energy and solar cells.   Bartaku hopes that other artists might think more about energy sources in their work, and make solar cells to power installations, outdoor activites, and elements used in performances.

His goal is to eventually make a solar cell made of 100 percent edible ingredients using the principles from the realms of alchemistry, photovoltaics, and cooking.

There is a flickr site that has photos from one of the workshops, which features lots of pictures with people with strange color shapes in their mouths.  I am very interested in this idea and project, and hope to be able to attend a workshop in the future.  Informaiton about making a PhoEf is on Bartaku’s research site, so go head and see if you can get your solar on!

Image Source:
PhoEf Project – Images on flickr

Links:
Video with Bartaku talking about PhoEf Project on Cobra TV

PhoEf Research Page – libarynth.org

PhoEf Project – Images on flickr