Bioluminescence is the natural emission of light by a living organism. The marine single-cell microorganism Pyrocystis fusiformis creates a rare phenomenon visible in the dark waters of tropical oceans. This plankton produces light through biochemical reactions triggered by movement and regulated by a circadian rhythm, a continuous cycle that plays a role in marine ecosystems.

Today, artificial light is often associated with modernity and progress, yet it increasingly disrupts biological rhythms, affecting both physiological balance and cellular processes.

This work explores the relationship between light, darkness, and living systems by preserving the microorganism’s circadian rhythm within a designed environment. The installation functions as a living habitat inspired by the organism’s natural cycle: regenerating during the light phase by collecting solar energy, and activating a gentle wave movement during the night phase to reveal the microorganism’s bioluminescent glow. By working with the rhythms of a living organism, the project reflects on darkness not as absence, but as an essential condition within natural cycles.

Carolina Carmona Hermenegildo is an Industrial Designer driven to cultivate moments of contemplation, preservation, and reconnection with living ecosystems and nature. Deeply fascinated by Bioluminescence, the Oceans, Ecology, Marine Organisms, and living systems. Her practice focuses on exploring the scientific properties of Light, working on the intersection of Innovative Design Engineering and BioDesign.