Artists
are all about exploring the world around them, delving into deep questions and
asking audiences to think and be inspired. Perhaps it should come as no
surprise that science often crosses paths with the art world.
BioArt is an art
practice where humans work with live tissues, bacteria, living organisms, and
life processes.
This topic is controversial, starting with the debate between even the definition
of bioart.
Using scientific processes such as biotechnology, the artworks are produced in
laboratories, galleries, or artists' studios.
Joe
Davis was considered the pioneer of bioart, considering how to incorporate
genomes into art. For example, he documented how Ecoli bacteria responded to
jazz music. Manipulating life seems inhumane in my personal opinion, especially
when bioart affects animals. Such as Eduardo Kac’s Fluorescent bunny, the
albino bunny given the genes of a jelly fish and termed “art”. Or where Kac created a "Edunia" flower, that he genetically engineered to express his DNA by putting his blood in the flowers veins.
In
2000, when artists officially began experimenting with living cells and
tissues, in science labs, bioart was established through symbiotica. All this
controversial, eccentric, art is an interesting topic for discussion. One of
the artists is Marta Demenezes modified the patterns of wings within
butterflies as “art.” However, eventually the butterflies’ wings contained
holes in them. In my opinion this is precisely why scientists/artists should
not manipulate animal genetics and experiment on them. From the lecture videos
I have viewed, this particular art form I do not necessarily agree with.
Exactly in the planet of the Apes synopsis, where the animals eventually either
die, are harmed, or harm the scientists that manipulated their DNA to begin
with. I believe there should be strong restrictions on bioart and animals' genetic manipulation.
Sources:
- Vesna, Victoria. Lecture 1. DESMA 9. Web. 6 May. 2016.
- Vesna, Victoria. Lecture 2. DESMA 9. Web. 6 May 2016.
- Kac, Eduardo. “Natural History of the Enigma.” Ekac. 2009. Web. 3 Nov 2012.http://www.ekac.org/nat.hist.enig.html
- "Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Trailer". Youtube. 6, May 2016. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbCoDf44oCE>
- Walden, Stephanie. "BioArt: Is it Art? Is it Science? Is it the future" 29. Oct. 2013. Web. 6, May 2016. <http://mashable.com/2013/10/29/cutpastegrow-bioart/#6f_HxOvQePqO>
Hi Eryn! I enjoyed reading your blog and your opinions on bioart. I somewhat agree that bioart can be inhumane and unethical. However, I also think that when biotechnology is used correctly and carefully, bioart can be a very innovative and engaging media platform.
ReplyDeleteHey Eryn(: I agree that some aspects of bioart are inhumane because I feel that it disrupts the way nature interacts with people. I think that it is dangerous to advance bioart just for arts sake because it can lead to the creation of species that may not be containable or inventions that cannot be controlled because they arent't natural. In my opinion, I feel as though scientists have more of a reason and purpose when using living tissue in their experiments and creations than artists do.
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