“Portrait Without Organs -SalomÍA”

Microbiologists and bacteriologists from hospitals and the University of Granada participated in the development of this work, being responsible for collecting and analyzing saliva samples from different individuals. Based on the images provided by the obtained cultures, an AI algorithm system designed by the artist, named SalomÍA, deciphered the bacterial growth in the form of music.

In religious and spiritual narratives, saliva is a relevant element, as it has often been linked to miraculous and healing abilities. “We have used this fluid because of its symbolic significance, as it is connected to speech. Additionally, saliva is not only rich from a microbiological standpoint, but its microbiota is unique and representative of each individual. It is like a kind of biological ID, making the resulting musical piece unique to each person.”

Through AI, contemporary art transcends human limitations to explore previously inaccessible territories. In the words of the author, “In this work, the AI has created unprecedented musical compositions, redefining the boundaries of creativity and science by interpreting music from microbial cultures for the first time.” Even for the scientists involved, this project was unsettling: “In Microbiology, we are applying AI for the early diagnosis of diseases, which is why this proposal seemed surprising and disruptive to us.”