CHRISTINA AGAPAKIS, how to make human cheese




(Bacterial Encounters. Monoculture)


Christina Agapakis —biologist and artist— explores new scenarios in which is possible to question the relationship between humans and bacteria to promote reflection in society. Human microbes, evolution biology, cheese, smell and body odors are some of the words that define the central axis of Agapakis’ project Selfmade which is a project made in collaboration with Sissel Tolaas that consists in making cheese with bacteria that help produce body odor. She collects these bacteria from the human body, mouth, toes and armpits.

Agapakis uses synthetic biology and critical thinking as a tool to draw future scenarios that provide a creative interpretation of how humans interact with all microscope life and, in particular, with bacteria.


Words by Lula Criado (Twitter @Lula_ClotMag)




I recently read The Mirage of Health by René Dubos, which starts off with a discussion of how we’re always stuck between a utopia and a golden age. On the one hand we tend to romanticize previous periods as a golden ages where things were simpler and carefree, and on the other we fantasize about a future utopia where everything is perfect and all our problems have been solved. This can make it very hard to answer questions like this, but also points to what I like and dislike about our present time. I like how our utopias can drive curiosity and passion in science and technology.

But I also dislike how our utopias and golden ages narrow our capacity to see what’s around us in the present. In technology we focus so hard on solving problems that we don’t take the time to really understand problems – who is this a problem for? Who will benefit from our solution? What besides technology do we need?


What is your chief enemy of creativity?

I think the best ideas can come from starting out on new projects with new people or just chatting over coffee with my very smart friends. Deadlines and loneliness are good for getting projects done but not for starting new ones.



Humans have much more than 5 senses. We can sense the position of our bodies in space and the passing of time. We can feel pressure, temperature, and pain. I’ve even seen itching described as a distinct sense, so that’s the one I would give up.


What is the worst piece of advice you have been given?

“Wait until you have tenure.”


Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert?




I just learned about a really interesting symbiotic relationship between paramecia and bacteria that totally blew my mind. There are some paramecia that can kill other paramecia by releasing a toxin into their environment.

The interesting thing though is that the toxin isn’t made by the paramecia themselves, it’s produced by a virus that infects a bacteria, which lives inside the paramecium! I’m fascinated by these weird symbiotic nesting-doll relationships and I’m endlessly surprised by the creativity of evolution and the complexity of microbes.


(Photos courtesy the artist)
03 Nov 2014