Week6: BioTech + Art

Many people think that Biotechnology and art are two controversial concepts due to the debate of various pros and cons bring up by these two concepts. Although it is hard to believe that Biotechnology can be connected to art in some level, biotechnology does have great impact on art. Creation of designs are inspired by the findings of biotechnology and thus "Bio-art" is created. 

Bio-art works at the cellular level and tissues directly, it discovers the connection between human bodies, genetics and the environment. With biotechnology, genetics and technologies progress, the experiments begin to involve animals and therefore leads to ethical issues. Despite all the negative aspects, biotechnology continue to contribute to the development of new art in various aspects. Joe Davis and his creations are able to demonstrate this development. He combines music, visual art and germs all together using instruments he invented to make people believe that there is a connection and new understanding between biotechnology and art. 

(Joe Davis and his inventions)

Artists have always worked with nature. Edward Steichen, a great photographer, worked specifically on the development of hybridizing delphiniums. His famous art work was exhibited in 1936. This creation inspired George Gessert and motivated him in creating his own hybrid of irises. After his retirement, he worked specifically in hybridizing flowers. His flower show was presented in 1936 in Museum of Modern Art. 

George Gessert developed flowers into an art form, and therefore combines nature with art. Later in his career, he worked on the overlap between art and genetics. Using biotechnology, his creations demonstrate how nature is interpreted and the connections between human and art.  

Similar to the flowers created by George Gessert, many other art works are created in the laboratories. Artists use microscope, skeleton collections, specimen collections, slide collections, herbarium and aquarium to create their own artwork. Plant tissue engineering, molecular cuisine and the production of micro eco-systems are also used in the creation of artworks. Nowadays, biotechnology not only greatly influences art but also become a part of art, a foundation of which art is created upon. 

Bacterias grown in the lab, is also used as a source of art creation. Water and agar are embedded in the bacteria to form great pieces of art by nature. This is the kind of art that is created by nature but discovered by humans. Without the technological progresses, people may never discover the beauty of these "invisible" nature. 

1. Vesna, Victoria. "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg#t=442" Lecture. 5 Bioart pt1, 23 Spet 2013, 09 Oct 2013.

2. Vesna, Victoria. "https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL9DBF43664EAC8BC7&v=z7zHIdsFS3A" Lecture. 5 Bioart pt5, 17 May 2013, 09 Oct 2013.

3. "School of Visual Arts   Special Programs   Summer Residency Programs   Bio Art."School of 4. Visual Arts   Special Programs   Summer Residency Programs   Bio Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013.
4."Exploring The Invisible." Exploring The Invisible. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013.

5."BioArt 2009." BioArt 2009. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2013.