Biotech+Art

This week we learned about the intersection of biotechnology and art. The part I found most fascinating about this week’s lecture was when the artists entered the science lab. These artists in particular, were officially named “Symbiotica,” where they engaged in science labs. The artwork that is made from Symbiotica can not be found in most art galleries; their artworks can be found at large scientific institutions. This Symbiotica group was inspired to combine biotechnology and science when they saw a piece of work called the Earmouse. The Earmouse was where there was an implanted lab-grown cartilage structure in the shape of a human ear, put under the skin of a mouse. This Earmouse was the spark that made this group want to make this type of artwork. Their artworks were made from purely scientific objectives, but inspired artists later to experiment with biological structures. Symbiotica has changed the way that people see the world, because they have shown that scientific objects can be made into artwork.

Another lecture I enjoyed was Biotech part four, which talked about body modification and how science and technology could potentially overcome human limitations. This lecture also talked about trans-humanism. The performance artist Stelarc is a huge proponent of body modification, and his work is seen when he did his project “the third ear.” In 2007, Stelarc had an ear surgically attached to his left arm. He did this because he wanted to explore this idea of transhumanism. This meaning that he wanted to transform the human condition by enhancing the intellectual, physical, and psychological capacities. He wants to explore how technology can eventually help the human body.

Another issue that relates biotechnology and art is genetic modification of food. Alot of food in our modern world is genetically modified for aesthetic purposes- like fruit coloration and shape. For instance, food is enhanced or modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits. Some of the criticisms of genetically modified foods is that there are many human health risks such as: allergies, and other unknown effects on human health. Genetically modified foods have been getting a bad reputation in modern times for these criticism, and this has thus sparked a movement for more organic food. Not only has genetically modified foods been in the news, but also the idea of genetically modified babies. This brings up the issues of ethical debates, and is something that our generation will have to grapple with during our lifetime. This issue of genetically modified foods or children is something our future society will also have to deal with as well.

Citations

"5 BioArt Pt1." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 16 July 2014.

"5 BioArt Pt4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 18 July 2014.

"Bioart: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Using Living Tissue as a Medium | Underwire | WIRED." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 26 July 0011. Web. 18 July 2014.

"Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?" Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Web. 15 July 2014.

"SymbioticA." The University of Western Australia. Web. 18 July 2014.