Alphabet of Life, 2024

Alphabet of Life is an immersive art installation that explores the molecular essence of life itself: the twenty primary amino acids. These molecules are used to construct the proteins that sustain all living organisms. They are the fundamental “building blocks” of life. In the installation, the intricate beauty of each amino acid is revealed through a meticulous process. Each amino acid’s molecular structure is sourced from the Protein Data Bank, transformed into 3D printable file formats, and refined to capture its essence. These structures are then laser-etched into glass orbs, creating a visual and tactile representation of the molecules that drive life’s complexity.

Pinar Yoldas describes herself as an “infradisciplinary” designer, artist, and researcher. Her practice begins from biological sciences — often from “speculative biology” — and is realized through digital technologies, architectural installations, kinetic sculpture, sound, video and drawing. The thematic areas of her interest include posthumanism, eco-nihilism, anthropocene and feminist technoscience. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Yoldas moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to pursue an MFA at UCLA and later a PhD at Duke University. She is an Associate Professor in the Visual Arts Department at University of California, San Diego.