Mechanisms of Decomposition
2024
2024
30 x 38 cm
Embroidery on canvas.
Embroidery on canvas.
Meditations on mechanisms of decomposition.
Autolysis is a process of ‘self degradation’. Through a biological perspective homeostasis is the state of internal self-regulation and maintenance of steady physical and chemical condition maintained by a living system. Homeo from the greek homoios, meaning ‘similar’ and stasis meaning ‘standing still’. Homeostasis yielding to an idea of a living system staying, continuing to be the same.
As homoeostasis of a living system, of a body, stops cell structures as well as other vital systems and metabolisms are not maintained anymore. The cessation of bodily self-regulation initiates digestive actions of first endogenous enzymes – a process called autolysis, and then anaerobic bacteria – called putrefaction. Initiating from the gastrointestinal tract the human body starts being broken down into cellular proteins from the inside. Same becomes other. Other takes over. Staying the same, stying self is not possible anymore.
Autolysis. auto: self, lysis: degradation. The mechanisms that set autolytic processes in action are based on catalytic changes of a system. The onset of autolytic degradation signifies a shift of an equilibrium from a rehabilitating and reproducing body towards a de-composing body. Once a body dies, the rehabilitation and growth of new cells stop while degradation takes over. Autolysis is an umbrella term for processes of material transformation that are performed by an array of enzymes that involves the breakdown of cellular architectures. The process of autolysis typically is characterised by the diffuse distortion of tissue due to loss of cellular structure. The term autolysis is used in various environments. It is used in bread-making, forensic pathology or criminology. In bread-making autolysis describes the process of dying yeast cells that break and leak into the dough changing its structure, making it more 'doughy’, eventually enhancing the flavour and structure of a bread. Salt is an accelerator of autolysis. In forensic pathology and criminology knowledge about autolytic tissue degradation can be used to estimate how much time has passed since the metabolic processes of a body stopped. In clinical pathology indications of autolytic processes serve to diagnose diseases.
Autolysis and the leaking of cellular fluid into the body creates conditions favoured for microbial activity. Autolysis is often refered to as self-digestion as it is a process that does not involve microbial activity. This is an incorrect metaphor. Autolysis is a passive process. It involves the body's endogenous enzymes leaking from cells after death initiating the digestion of its own tissues. Putrefaction on the other hand is an active process based on microbial activity. The conditions created by the breaking of cellular architectures, leading to cellular fluid leaking into the body are favourable for microbial activity.
In alchemy putrefaction is a part of the nigredo stage: the dying and rotting of pre-conceptions. It is there at this point, at the onset of putrefaction, when the idea self is lost. It is at this point that human tissue is no-more-than and no-other-than a rotting mushroom, deadwood, a layer of mulch in the forest. At this point it has become waste because it its primary relation to its surrounding is to be self-less. It is out of place, it has become a substrate, ironically first for those that have been living within us all along.
The difference between a living body and a decomposing body is not that a decomposing body is less alive than a living body. Or that a living body is less of a host than a decomposing body. The difference is the cessation of chemical energy and of cellular metabolism, of self-maintenance, of homeostasis. What happens is that the body leaches into the surrounding environment, it’s selective porosity is not maintained anymore. The dynamics of relating to others changed, it has now become a priority to be consumed and moral judgment of good and bad carries no value anymore.
Autopoiesis, auto: self, poesis: making, refers to a system–living matter that is self-reflexive, self-oriented, literally self-producing. True examples of autopoiesis involve metabolism, meaning any of the various ways in which evolved organisms are able to remain alive and r
Autolysis is a process of ‘self degradation’. Through a biological perspective homeostasis is the state of internal self-regulation and maintenance of steady physical and chemical condition maintained by a living system. Homeo from the greek homoios, meaning ‘similar’ and stasis meaning ‘standing still’. Homeostasis yielding to an idea of a living system staying, continuing to be the same.
As homoeostasis of a living system, of a body, stops cell structures as well as other vital systems and metabolisms are not maintained anymore. The cessation of bodily self-regulation initiates digestive actions of first endogenous enzymes – a process called autolysis, and then anaerobic bacteria – called putrefaction. Initiating from the gastrointestinal tract the human body starts being broken down into cellular proteins from the inside. Same becomes other. Other takes over. Staying the same, stying self is not possible anymore.
Autolysis. auto: self, lysis: degradation. The mechanisms that set autolytic processes in action are based on catalytic changes of a system. The onset of autolytic degradation signifies a shift of an equilibrium from a rehabilitating and reproducing body towards a de-composing body. Once a body dies, the rehabilitation and growth of new cells stop while degradation takes over. Autolysis is an umbrella term for processes of material transformation that are performed by an array of enzymes that involves the breakdown of cellular architectures. The process of autolysis typically is characterised by the diffuse distortion of tissue due to loss of cellular structure. The term autolysis is used in various environments. It is used in bread-making, forensic pathology or criminology. In bread-making autolysis describes the process of dying yeast cells that break and leak into the dough changing its structure, making it more 'doughy’, eventually enhancing the flavour and structure of a bread. Salt is an accelerator of autolysis. In forensic pathology and criminology knowledge about autolytic tissue degradation can be used to estimate how much time has passed since the metabolic processes of a body stopped. In clinical pathology indications of autolytic processes serve to diagnose diseases.
Autolysis and the leaking of cellular fluid into the body creates conditions favoured for microbial activity. Autolysis is often refered to as self-digestion as it is a process that does not involve microbial activity. This is an incorrect metaphor. Autolysis is a passive process. It involves the body's endogenous enzymes leaking from cells after death initiating the digestion of its own tissues. Putrefaction on the other hand is an active process based on microbial activity. The conditions created by the breaking of cellular architectures, leading to cellular fluid leaking into the body are favourable for microbial activity.
In alchemy putrefaction is a part of the nigredo stage: the dying and rotting of pre-conceptions. It is there at this point, at the onset of putrefaction, when the idea self is lost. It is at this point that human tissue is no-more-than and no-other-than a rotting mushroom, deadwood, a layer of mulch in the forest. At this point it has become waste because it its primary relation to its surrounding is to be self-less. It is out of place, it has become a substrate, ironically first for those that have been living within us all along.
The difference between a living body and a decomposing body is not that a decomposing body is less alive than a living body. Or that a living body is less of a host than a decomposing body. The difference is the cessation of chemical energy and of cellular metabolism, of self-maintenance, of homeostasis. What happens is that the body leaches into the surrounding environment, it’s selective porosity is not maintained anymore. The dynamics of relating to others changed, it has now become a priority to be consumed and moral judgment of good and bad carries no value anymore.
Autopoiesis, auto: self, poesis: making, refers to a system–living matter that is self-reflexive, self-oriented, literally self-producing. True examples of autopoiesis involve metabolism, meaning any of the various ways in which evolved organisms are able to remain alive and r
eproduce through access to energy and material substance.