Biotechnology+Art (Week 4)

The combination of art and biotech is not something unfamiliar. In recent years, there have always been reports about new researches in biotechnology. One work that surprised me was Eduardo Kac’s GFP Bunny. With the goal of creating an “animal that does not exist in nature,” he inserted the fluorescent jellyfish gene into the albino rabbit. Although he used transgenics as an artistic technique to show the limitless possibilities that human can achieve with new researches and technologies, his work raised a lot of concerns as people question the moralities and the scientific values behind such procedure. I think that all living organisms should be treated equally and scientists should not use animals to experiment just because they are not human. I think that because of works like the GFP Bunny and Microvenus, Joe Davis’s works of synthesizing DNA molecules to create art, a lot of people will question the future of this field.

Although lack of scientific values, the GFP Bunny did prove that life itself is a valid expressive medium. The glowing green rabbit is a piece of art and it expresses Kac’s wish to create uniqueness in the world. Similarly, we also use ourselves as expressive mediums as people get tattoos and piercings. Both are ways in which we can manipulate our body in order to express how we feel inside.  

This also reminds me of Orlan. In the previous lecture, Professor Vesna mentioned how Orlan performs surgeries on herself in order to express her artistic feelings. This time, she further uses biotech to synthesis skin-like materials, in which she uses to create art and show uniqueness.

Aside from those interesting examples of combination between biotech and art, biotechnology has largely been used for medical researches and creating scientific materials, such as genetically modified food. Genetically modified food has always been hotly debated as people question its safety and the effects that the chemicals will have on our brain. 

Due to the public rejection towards biotech researches, many biologists started the “DIY Biology ‘movement’,” where they can experiment without the restrictions of traditional research institutions. However, although biotechnology has positive characteristics, we should still put a limit to human creativity, because if not, our creations might lead to the production of monstrous organisms, like the superweeds, that human will not unable to control.

Works Cited

Alba, The Fluorescent Bunny. Digital image. N.p., 2000. Web. 14 July 2014. <http://www.ekac.org/albagreen.jpeg>.

Davis, Joe. "Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture." Joe Davis: Genetics and Culture. Ars Electronica, n.d. Web. 14 July 2014.

Genetically Modified Food. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 July 2014. <http://www.skepticalraptor.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gmo-tomato.jpg>.

Kac, Eduardo. "GFP BUNNY." KAC. Eduardo Kac, n.d. Web. 14 July 2014.

Kelty, Chris. "Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?" (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 14 July 2014.

 “Let It Be” Tattoo. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 July 2014. <http://sacramentotattooshops.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/tattoos-piercings-stylz.jpg>.

Microvenus. Digital image. N.p., 2000. Web. 14 July 2014. <http://www.viewingspace.com/genetics_culture/pages_genetics_culture/gc_w03/davis_j_webarchive/artistic_molecules/Vdavis3.jpg>.

Vesna,Victoria. “Lecutre Part 3.“ MedTech + Art. 09 July 2014. Lecture.

Vesna,Victoria. “Lecutre Part 4.” Biotech + Art. 14 July 2014. Lecture.

Wenk, Gary. "This Is Your Brain on Food." SEED MAGAZINE. Seed Media Group, 13 Sept. 2010. Web. 14 July 2014.