This weeks lecture and reading focused on the “bio-art”, a term coined by Eduardo Katz, and refers to biotechnology's place as a medium for art.
Vesna discussed physical and genetic manipulation of animals and organisms as forms of art. She started with Joe Davis - often considered the pioneer of bio-art and a person with huge impact on many following artists. A group called Symbotica formed in 2000 as one of the first groups for creating bio-art. Adam Zaretsky, Marta de Menezes, Kathy High, and Orlan all held residencies at Symbiotica and were greatly impacted by Joe Davis.
She identified on a prominent figure in the area - Eduardo Katz - known mostly for his Fluorescent Bunny. The project took zygote microinjection of EGFG and inserted into fertilized rabbit egg cells which caused the bunny, “Alba”, to glow a fluorescent green. This piece of art was iconic in the field of bio-art and questioned many of the controversial questions.
Vesna also discussed the obvious controversy surround projects that involve genetic mutation of animals and organisms. There is obvious backlash against the use of animals as art using genetic mutilation and the ethics behind it. An interesting side note - I found it interesting that Vesna mentioned the use of fluorescence in genes as a method of tagging proteins and allows for tracing drugs throughout the body without using surgery. It is a perspective I had not thought to look at.
This discussion made me think of those articles that came out that mentioned being able to genetically build your own baby. To me this concept still seems very weird that you would even want to pick your baby's genes to be different from your own. I must also mention that this is a very costly procedure so we must be careful that the wealthy are not given the power to bread smarter, more attractive, stronger, super babies which could create an isolated unfair advantage.
Scientists at the University of Oxford used 3D printers to create “living tissues”. Technology advancements like this are not only amazing for the medical field and cell regeneration, but also makes possibilities for less controversial bio-art.
I also really like artists Enrico Becker and Matt Harris’s work which comments on the future of genetically modified foods. They place bar codes on produce and change their colors.
CITATIONS
Vesna, Victoria. "Biotechnology + Art, Part 4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSc72u9KhI&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7>
Gallagher, James. "'Designer Babies' Debate Should Start, Scientists Say - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 19 Jan. 2015. Web.
Cooper-White, Macrina. "3D Printed Cell Technique Allows Material To Mimic Human-Like Tissue (VIDEO)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/05/3d-printed-cells-tissue-human_n_3021600.html>
Enrico becker matt harris look at the future of genetically modified fruits. (2015, October 02). Retrieved May 13, 2017, from http://www.designboom.com/art/enrico-becker-matt-harris-genetically-modified-fruits-10-01-2015/
Vesna also discussed the obvious controversy surround projects that involve genetic mutation of animals and organisms. There is obvious backlash against the use of animals as art using genetic mutilation and the ethics behind it. An interesting side note - I found it interesting that Vesna mentioned the use of fluorescence in genes as a method of tagging proteins and allows for tracing drugs throughout the body without using surgery. It is a perspective I had not thought to look at.
This discussion made me think of those articles that came out that mentioned being able to genetically build your own baby. To me this concept still seems very weird that you would even want to pick your baby's genes to be different from your own. I must also mention that this is a very costly procedure so we must be careful that the wealthy are not given the power to bread smarter, more attractive, stronger, super babies which could create an isolated unfair advantage.
Scientists at the University of Oxford used 3D printers to create “living tissues”. Technology advancements like this are not only amazing for the medical field and cell regeneration, but also makes possibilities for less controversial bio-art.
I also really like artists Enrico Becker and Matt Harris’s work which comments on the future of genetically modified foods. They place bar codes on produce and change their colors.
CITATIONS
Vesna, Victoria. "Biotechnology + Art, Part 4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSc72u9KhI&list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7>
Gallagher, James. "'Designer Babies' Debate Should Start, Scientists Say - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., 19 Jan. 2015. Web.
Cooper-White, Macrina. "3D Printed Cell Technique Allows Material To Mimic Human-Like Tissue (VIDEO)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/05/3d-printed-cells-tissue-human_n_3021600.html>
Enrico becker matt harris look at the future of genetically modified fruits. (2015, October 02). Retrieved May 13, 2017, from http://www.designboom.com/art/enrico-becker-matt-harris-genetically-modified-fruits-10-01-2015/
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