BioTech+Art

As one of the most controversial topics covered in this class, biotechnology raises ethical concerns as it deals with creating hybrids, live organisms, and experimenting on animals. The fields of science and technology are continuing to expand and explore the human body. Artists have begun working in laboratories with scientists to explore the cellular tissue level of living beings. This has sparked controversy regarding the definition of “BioArt.” (Vesna, pt.1)

Although Eduardo Kac coined the term BioArt, Joe Davis is known to be the “Father of BioArt.” He came up ideas that most scientists would find dangerous or crazy. One of his most profound inventions was the Audio Microscope, which transfers light information into sound, allowing the user to hear living cells. He also explored how E. Coli responded to jazz and sounds and digitized and translated micro Venus into the genes of E. coli. Micro Venus has never been shown in a public gallery due to the risk of displaying genetically engineered bacteria. Davis was clearly a highly intelligent individual and intellectually ahead of his time. His dangerous inventions and experiments played a significant role in the cohesion of biotechnology and art. (Vesna, pt.1)

Joe Davis's E. coli experiment

According to Professor Vesna, artists entered science labs the same year that they human genome was sequenced. This led to the formation of a group called “Syombiotica,” which was created by both artists and scientists. Although artists and scientists have been linked throughout history, this seems to be the first time that they have really come together as a single unit. I found it very interesting to learn about what artists and scientists are capable of accomplishing when working together. Symbiotica formed tissue culture and art project. Tissue engineering related projects are the main focus of their work; which sparks ethical debates which emerging technologies. In addition to their research, Symbiotica created a project called “fish and chips” which was a robotic arm operated by goldfish neurons to produce art. Before this lecture, I never would have thought that the unity of art and science could produce such cutting-edge technology. (Vesna, pt.2)

This is Symbiotica; a group of artists and scientists conjoined in a single laboratory

Symbiotica's "Fish and Chips" project creating art

Kathy High was a visual/media artist and member of Symbiotica. She created a vampire study group by working with the body and biological manipluation of life. She created blood wars, which was a competition between individuals to test the biological reaction of human white blood cells. Similar to last weeks lecture, plactic surgery plays an important role in biotechnology and art. I found Stelarc’s third ear to be one of the most striking experiments regarding the human body. The ear is comprised of cultured human cartilage with an implanted microphone. This was a performance of a sub-dermal implant of an ear on his arm created to hear sound between living and nonliving things. (Vesna, pt.3) This is extremely thought provoking, as body modification is a highly debated.

Stelarc's Third Ear

Works Cited

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

Katherine. "“Father of BioArt” Joe Davis on Colbert." ScienceFriday.com. Science Friday, 11 Jan. 2011. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.sciencefriday.com/blogs/01/11/2011/-8220-father-of-bioart-8221-joe-davis-on-colbert.html?interest=1>.

"SymbioticA." : : The University of Western Australia. The University of Western Australia, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.symbiotica.uwa.edu.au/>.

"Extended-Body: Interview with Stelarc." Extended-Body: Interview with Stelarc. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://web.stanford.edu/dept/HPS/stelarc/a29-extended_body.html>.

Gibbs, W. Wayt. "Scientific American: Feature Article: Art as a Form of Life: April 2001." Art as a Life Form. Scientific American, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_j_webarchive/davis_profile_sciam/jd.htm>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 Bioart Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt Pt2." YouTube. YouTube, 17 May 2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdSt-Hjyi2I&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7#t=145>.

Vesna, Victoria. "5 BioArt Pt3." YouTube. YouTube, 5 May 2012. Web. 10 May 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpD3np1S2g&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7#t=61>.