Week 6 BioTech+Art
Week 6 BioTech+Art
The combination of biotechnology and art presents a highly innovative yet challenging form of expression. In Professor Vesna's lecture, she mentions this innovative artistic concept where artists enjoy connecting the least connected things and attempt to build a connection between them. In Elle K. Levy's article Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classification, she explains that "biotechnology is a place where political, economic, legal, and scientific interests meet, and artists can promote discussion about these issues" (Levy 13). In other words, artists can use their creative expression to initiate dialogue and reflect on biotechnological advancements' ethical and societal impacts.
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| Artwork by Suzanne Anker |
Joe Davis is one of the pioneers of BioArt, and his groundbreaking bio-art project, particularly his work Microvenus, exemplifies the innovative fusion of art and biotechnology. Davis draws inspiration from molecular biology to encode symbolic information into the genomes of bacteria, particularly E. coli, to create a lasting message that could potentially be discovered by future intelligent beings (whether on Earth or elsewhere) (Wayt). The specific symbol chosen, Microvenus, resembles a combination of the letters Y and I, representing life and the outline of female genitalia. Davis's project challenges traditional notions of artistic media by using genomes as a palette, emphasizing the potential of genetic manipulation as a form of creative expression.
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| Microvenus by Joe Davis |
Pig Wing has raised ethical concerns due to its biotechnology exploration and the creation of hybrid organisms that challenge traditional boundaries of life and species. The project involves creating three unique sets of wings made from pig mesenchymal cells grown on biodegradable polymers (Tissue Culture & Art Project). Wings were grown in a rotary bioreactor for nine months, then coated with gold and stored in jewelry boxes. This project prompts reflection on the ethics of hybridization and genetic manipulation, especially in scenarios involving animals with human DNA or humans with animal parts. Additionally, Pig Wing urges us to contemplate the reason and motivation behind these advancements in biotechnology. For example, will these technologies be used solely for scientific or medical purposes, or might they expand into other areas, potentially raising further ethical dilemmas? Overall, bio-art projects explore the broader ethical impacts of biotechnological innovation on manipulated life forms and encourage dialogue.
Pig Wings
References
Levy, Ellen K. Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications, pp. 1–22.
Nadis, Steve. “Hardy Microbe’s DNA Could Be a Time Capsule for the Ages | Science | AAAS.” Hardy Microbe’s DNA Could Be a Time Capsule for the Ages, 18 Feb. 2020, www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/hardy-microbe-s-dna-could-be-time-capsule-ages.
“Pigs Wings.” The Tissue Culture & Art Project, Tissue Culture & Art Project, tcaproject.net/portfolio/pigs-wings/. Accessed 12 May 2024.
Vesna, Victoria. Biotechnology and Art Lectures Part I, bruinlearn.ucla.edu/courses/183769/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=6671250. Accessed 2024.
Images
Clark, Garth. “Everson Museum of Art’s Suzanne Anker: 1.5° Celsius Is a Triumph.” CFile, 13 Sept. 2019, cfileonline.org/feature-everson-museum-of-arts-suzanne-anker-1-5-celsius-is-a-triumph/.
“Media Art Net: Davis, Joe: Microvenus.” Medien Kunst Netz, Media Art Net, 12 May 2024, www.medienkunstnetz.de/works/microvenus/.
“Pigs Wings.” The Tissue Culture & Art Project, Tissue Culture & Art Project, tcaproject.net/portfolio/pigs-wings/. Accessed 12 May 2024.
I really enjoyed reading your post! It's incredibly interesting and profound that artists use their artwork as a form of political expression to share their thoughts on the moral implications of certain biotechnological advancements! I especially liked your explanation of "Pig Wings" and how it urges us to question what our goal is with these new creations in biotechnology.
ReplyDeleteHello, I agree with many of the statements in your post. I also found it very interesting that artists use their work for political expression. Moreover, it is important to realize the impact artists can have on other fields.Also, i liked how you related art to biotechnology , it is very relevant to what we learned in lecture.
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