6: Biotech + Art

Joe Davis' audio microscope
http://geneticsandculture.com/
genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/
gc_w03/davis_audio_scope.htm

This week's topic of biotechnology and art was incredibly interesting to me.  I had never thought that biotechnology could be used for art in so many different ways, which shows how unimaginative I am.  For example, Joe Davis was sort of a pioneer of this type of art, and some of his work included an audio microscope and bacterial reaction to jazz.  The art of Davis and some other artists is confusing because it can be hard to tell whether it is for the purpose of art or science.  Eduardo Kac created a fluorescent bunny named Alba and declared it art, though it sounds more like a science experiment.  However, part of his artwork was the public dialogue caused by the rabbit.  It can be seen in this work and others that part of the art is seeing how the public reacts.

Eduardo Kac and Alba
http://www.artnexus.com/
Notice_View.aspx?DocumentID=19376

Another example is the transgenic rats made by Kathy High.
Though rats are often used for scientific research, she used
them to look at people's attitudes toward them as pests and as
friends.

The rise of the use of biotechnology in art has come about during a time of much change in the nature of the field of biotechnology and the questioning of scientific categories.  The combination of living and nonliving things in art has called into question where the divide between the two are.  Also, the use of biotechnology in art has caused people to question what kinds of living things can be considered property.  These artists are working outside of what Kelty calls Big Bio, but they are still dependent on it for the science and the tools that they use.  Making this art is only possible because of the availability of biotechnology to artists today.  Although artists don't usually contribute to important scientific research, they benefit society by increasing the public's awareness of current science by using it in their artwork.  I think life is definitely a valid expressive medium, but it does need to be more carefully dealt with.  Restrictions should be more stringent on artists than on scientists because scientific research has more of a direct effect on people's bodies.

Stelarc considers himself a cyborg.
http://scooblrinc.com/the-worlds-most-famous-real-life-cyborgs/

Sources:

"All About Transgenic Rats." Embracing Animal. Kathy High. Web. 08 May 2016.

"Joe Davis." Genetics and Culture. Design|Media Arts 98T. Web. 08 May 2016. 

Kac, Eduardo. "GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY. Web. 08 May 2016.

Kelty, Chris. Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?

Levy, Ellen K. Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.