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 Clara Wren - Week 6 - BioTech + Art

I learned that Biotechnology and art is one of the most controversial topics because there are so many pros and cons to it.  As technology and science continues to evolve, the palette of the artist continues to grow with it.  This technology is not only continuing into our bodies, but also our environment.  Artists are now working in laboratories directly with biologists, nanotechnologists, geneticists, and neuroscientists. 

There are two different ways that people view bio art.  There are people that only consider it bio art if they are in there working with the tissue and cells itself.  However, there are others that think just observing and scientific imaging is enough to be considered bio art.  One of the main controversies when it comes to this is working with animals and their natural structures. 

A new alchemy: Biotechnology as art

Artist and Scientist

Symbiotica are a group of researchers working on art projects.  It is a place that is specifically for artists that are in science labs.  They work with living objects and focus on tissue engineering. 

ArtAsiaPacific: Australian University Moves to Defund Renowned Art-and-Science Lab

Symbiotica Group

Orlan is a performance artist that is very famous due to several pieces of art she has created and produced.  Her newest work is called the Harlequin Coat.  It is an organic coat that is made from different color skin pieces that are made in-vitro in petri dishes.  It symbolizes culture cross-breeding.  Her main investigation that led to this project was hybridization.  Her results showed the value in each colored skin from different media.  

ORLAN, a pioneer beyond any conception of the body

Harlequin Skin Coat

References: 

Vesna, Victoria. Intro. Youtube, Youtube, 26 March, 2012,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvp924_pbgc&t=54s 

Vesna, Victoria. Part I. Youtube, Youtube, 18 September, 2013,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg&t=116s 

Vesna, Victoria. Part II. Youtube, Youtube, 17 May, 2012,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSt-Hjyi2I&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&t=137s 

Vesna, Victoria. Part III. Youtube, Youtube, 17 May, 2012,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpD3np1S2g&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&t=323s 

Vesna, Victoria. Part IV. Youtube, Youtube, 17 May, 2012,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSc72u9KhI&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&t=155s

Comments

  1. Lama AhmedMay 14, 2023 at 12:55 PM

    Hi Clara,
    Great job on this week's blog. I definitely agree that biotech and art combined bring a lot of controversy. In my opinion, I worry about whether there are strict rules for artists using biotech the way there are for scientists in academia. I think about the GFP bunny mentioned in this week's lectures and how unnecessary it was for the bunny to just end up green for the sake of art.

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