Week 6: BioTech + Art
Put simply, biotechnology is type of technology that's grounded in biology. Biotechnology could be a controversial topic to a lot of people as the biotechnology that most people associate it with is that of changing the biological makeup of living things for human's desires. For instance, some agricultural animals have been known to be cloned in order to create an abundance for humans yet some argue that cloning is unethical and could potentially be bad for humans (Cit. 1)
In relation to art, Professor Vesna mentioned that there are debates over what defines bioart. She goes to say that some artists define bioart as going into laboratories and artists working with the actual cellular technology while others simply work alongside scientists to compose the art. Furthermore, Vesna mentions an ethical concern of animals in bioart in which people question the artists who genetically engineer the biological makeup of animals.
An example of the overlap between biotechnology and art is that of Joe Davis. Joe Davis is considered a pioneer in the field of bioart. He is known for his research and art in the field of bioart including molecular biology and bioinformatics (cit. 3). Davis' first biotechnology art project is that of the audio microscope which translates light information into sound.
Furthermore, the ethics of genetically modified animals came into play with Eduardo Kac's fluorescent glowing bunny named 'Alba'. Alba was created by French scientists by injecting green fluorescent protein from jellyfish into the egg of a fertilized albino rabbit egg (cit. 6)
This idea of injecting an animal with another living creature's protein has sparked controversy in the scientific and art community. Specifically it is debated whether or not Alba should be considered art at all. Similarly to genetically engineered animals, plants have also been known to be genetically tainted with for art and aesthetic purposes. Edward Steichen is the first known artist to create new organisms and exhibit them as art (cit. 8). The overlap between art and genetics is evident in Steichen's genetically modified plants and flowers. The plants that he created are a perfect example of how science influences art and art influences science.
Sources
1. “Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture: Status and Current Issues.” EveryCRSReport.com, Congressional Research Service, 19 May 2011, https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL33334.html.
2. 3, Ike Swetlitz May, et al. “FDA Commissioner Says Genetically Engineering Animals and Developing Human Gene Therapies Are Intertwined.” STAT, 3 May 2018, https://www.statnews.com/2018/05/03/fda-commissioner-says-future-genetically-engineering-animals-developing-human-gene-therapies-intertwined/.
3. “Joe Davis (Artist).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Dec. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Davis_(artist).
4. “Joe Davis' Audio Microscope Allows User to Listen to Microscopic Cells.” Adafruit Industries - Makers, Hackers, Artists, Designers and Engineers!, 24 Oct. 2014, https://blog.adafruit.com/2014/10/26/joe-davis-audio-microscope-allows-user-to-listen-to-microscopic-cells/.
5. Vesna, Victoria. 5 Bioart PT1 1280X720 - Youtube. 18 Sept. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg.
6. “Transgenic Bunny by Eduardo Kac.” GNN - Genome News Network, http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/03_02/bunny_art.shtml.
7. Eduardo Kac, GFP Bunny, 2000. Photo Credits: Chrystelle Fontaine. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Eduardo-Kac-GFP-Bunny-2000-Photo-credits-Chrystelle-Fontaine_fig3_296701984.
8. Stippl, Hannah. “Delphinium, Delphinium and More Delphinium––Edward Steichen, Karl Foerster and Their Obsession with Blue. About the Conceptual Art of Ornamental Plant Breeding.” Delphinium, Delphinium and More Delphinium––Edward Steichen, Karl Foerster and Their Obsession with Blue. about the Conceptual Art of Ornamental Plant Breeding. by Hannah Stippl, 2014, https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/88036/88037/0/0.
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