Week 6: BioTech + Art

According to Robert Mitchell, BioArt is an art practice in which humans work with live tissue, bacteria, and living organisms “to comment on, or even transform – biotechnological practice.”

Joe Davis, who is considered the pioneer of BioArt, forced the collaboration between molecular biologists and himself.  From entering the lab, he learned how to synthesize DNA and insert it into living cells. Davis’ creative ideas pushed the boundaries of what scientists thought were both feasible and safe, but this partnership allowed for the emergence of transgenic art. Eduardo Kac also used transgenic art, which is the transfer of natural or synthetic genes to create a unique organism.  This idea eventually led to the creation of SymbioticA, a permanent space for both artists and scientists to work together and experiment in labs. 

The use of biotechnology for artistic purposes is definitely the most controversial subject this class has addressed thus far.  Similar to my opinion on plastic surgery, I believe that if biotechnology or altering genomes is used for the purpose of saving something’s life, improving an organism’s life, or increasing the usefulness of an object for either scientific or artistic purposes, then biotechnology is a positive, beneficial advancement for society.  However, if biotechnology is solely used to transform the appearance of a living organism or harms the organism in any way, then there is a breach of ethics. 

GFP Bunny. Digital image. Eduardo Kac. Daniel Langois Foundation, n.d. Web. 9 May 2015. <http://www.fondation-langlois.org/html/e/page.php?NumPage=279>.

"Joe Davis." Genetics and Culture. Design|Media Arts 98T, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_joe.htm>.

Kac, Eduardo. "Bio Art." KAC. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2015. <http://www.ekac.org/>.

Mitchell, Robert. BioArt and the Vitality of Media. Seattle: U of Washington, 2010. Web. 9 May 2015. <https://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/MITBIO.html>.

Sferra, Rik. Transgenic Flower. Digital image. Natural History of the Enigma. Eduardo Kac, n.d. Web. 9 May 2015. <http://www.ekac.org/nat.hist.enig.html>.

“SymbioticA.” The University of Western Australia. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2015. <http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/>.

SymbioticA Logo. Digital image. SymbioticA. The University of Western Australia, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 205. <http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/>.

Vensa, Victoria. BioTech + Art Lectures I-V. UCOnline. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2015.