The Contamination of Alice #1 extends the Death Masks series, drawing from a 2009 incident where Alice’s Saos-2 cells became contaminated with fungi during routine cell culture. This work explores contamination not only as a biological disruption but also as a metaphor for creative influence and transformation. Wire clusters, modeled after microscopic images of the fungal infection, infiltrate the gallery, integrating into various individual pieces to visually echo the spread and impact of the contamination.

By framing contamination as both destructive and generative, Instance #1 suggests that unexpected interactions—whether biological or creative—can yield new forms and ideas. The work invites viewers to consider contamination as a powerful, ambivalent force that can spark change and inspire innovation, challenging the conventional view of purity in biological and creative processes alike.

This work forms part of The Absence of Alice project.