Martin Oeggerli, PhD | Duerrenmattweg 43, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
T: +41 (0)61 265 31 52 | M: +41 (0)76 442 35 08
The Electron Microscopy Project:
This series of images shows stunning surfaces of microscopically small organisms of life, e.g. small
portion of the surface from a swimming insect egg or the tip of the proboscis from a Fruitfly. These
structures are so incredibly small that you would never be able to see them with the naked eye and/or
with a macro camera or light microscope. All images were collected, fixated, prepared, and analyzed
by the artist with a scanning-electron-microscope (SEM). Colours had to be manually reconstructed.
SEM technology produces topographic scans and does not offer the possibility to capture colour
images because it is based on electrons and not light (compared to standard photographic camera).
-The Mite Project:
This series of images uncovers different types of mites. Mites are fascinating models, but usually too
small to be seen and almost impossible to be photographed. Displaying highly enlarged animals on a
neutral background using a scanning-electron-microscope (SEM) allows the observer to compare
different morphologies and thereby similarities and differences can be recognized with scientific
precision. All images were collected, fixated, prepared, and analyzed by the artist with an SEM.
Colours had to be manually reconstructed. SEM technology produces topographic scans and does not
offer the possibility to capture images in colour because it is based on electrons and not on light (or
photons, respectively).
-Portrait of a Bark Beetle
This is the portrait of a Bark beetle (Trypodendron lineatum). Bark beetles are a subfamily of the Snout
beetles ('Weevils'). 154 species exist in Europe and between 4'000-5'000 worldwide. As primary
destruents, they play an essential role in forest ecology, living on dead wood or on dying trees.
Trypodendron lineatum has a divided compound eye and is a monogamous species which shows
brood care. Displaying this animal highly enlarged on a neutral background involved scanningelectron-microscopy (SEM) technology. The specimen was collected, fixed and prepared, and
analyzed with SEM by the artist. Colours had to be manually reconstructed because SEM technology
produces topographic scans is based on electrons and not on light (or photons, respectively)
compared to ordinary photographic images. The reconstructed colours were kept as close to the
original as possible.
-The Microbes Project:
This series of images uncovers different types of microbes. Bacteria are fascinating models, but way
too small to be seen with the naked eye and impossible to be photographed. Using the scanningelectron-microscope (SEM) allows the observer to take a plunge into the microcosm and to stand face
to face to such incredibly small organisms. The examplified bacteria include: Streptococci,
Helicobacter, different species of intestinal bacteria, and Yersinia pestis (yellow bacteria with rod-like
shape on green background) which is the causative agent of the plague!
All images were collected, fixated, prepared, and analyzed by the artist with an SEM. Colours were
manually reconstructed. SEM technology produces topographic scans and does not offer the
possibility to capture images in colour because it is based on electrons and not on light (or photons,
respectively).