We're no strangers to unusual food here at Gizmag, but this latest culinary masterpiece is probably the most unappealing treat we've yet come across. Dubbed Selfmade, the cheese in question is made from human bacteria which derives from samples taken from people's armpits, toes, and noses.
The Selfmade cheese is the work of scientist Christina Agapakis and scent expert Sissel Tolaas, and is being exhibited as part of the Grow Your Own ... Life After Nature exhibit, at Trinity College Dublin's Science Gallery. The exhibit also features other projects which blur the line between art and science, such as I Wanna Deliver a Dolphin: a project proposing that future humans give birth to dolphins.
Each Selfmade cheese is created from cultures taken from the skin of a different person, and the process involves a strange combination of food preparation and microbiological techniques. This results in signature cheeses which are unique to each person – such as a "Christina" cheese, and "Ben" cheese, for example.
However, if the image of human bacteria-based cheese is making you salivate, be aware that the human cheese isn't actually available for human consumption, but is rather intended as a means of promoting discourse on microbiology.
"Can knowledge and tolerance of bacterial cultures in our food improve tolerance of the bacteria on our bodies?" posit Agapakis and Tolaas in their artist's statement.
The Selfmade cheese and other Grow Your Own ... Life After Nature projects will be on display at Trinity College Dublin's Science Gallery until January 19, 2014.
Source: Dublin Gallery via Dezeen
