By Leen Hamati
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH — Assistant Professor of Performing Arts Lina Younes is using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, or SCOBY, to create sustainable material for shadow puppetry during Humanities Week.
Younes displayed interconnected pieces of SCOBY in the Arts Rotunda this week to show visitors the material she uses in her work.
Younes said she began experimenting with SCOBY about two years ago. After drying the culture, she found that it formed a leathery material with natural patterns. She now uses SCOBY to create shadow figures and tests different ways to shape and connect the material.
The process involves fermenting sweet tea with bacteria and yeast before drying the culture in natural sunlight. Younes said the biodegradable substance is easy to cut, sew, layer and mold for theater designs. Its thickness affects how much light passes through, making it suitable for shadow puppetry.
Younes said she is exploring larger pieces for future theatrical designs and is interested in collaborating with others in exploring its potential uses.
