Biotechnology and Art (Bioart!)

As introduced in this lecture about the usage of biotechnology in art, we are again reminded of the roots of inspiration for artists.  Biotechnology offers the rare opportunity to modify the human body as well as other life forms.  As indicated by Stelarc’s third ear experiment/piece displayed below, we see the usage of modern biotechnology to provide shocking and controversial results.

While his specific boundary-pushing body art is not exactly very generally acceptable in popular culture, this technical body modification is just a controversial example of the future of “transhumanism”.  As our society develops and increases in biotechnological understanding, the human body will be further modified to provide desirable traits or potential aesthetic ideas.  This concept has been covered before in the film Gattaca, where there are featured characters with body modifications to improve their designed gift (i.e. the pianist with extra fingers shown in the image below).

This “transhumanism” may seem more useful, but utility gain is not the main focus of art’s usage of biotechnology and awareness of biotechnology. Other applications of art and biotechnology in conjunction were given in Dr. Vesna’s lecture and specific examples of Kathy High and Edward Steichen.  While Kathy High’s experimentation with lab rat rehabilitation was focused on the study of enthalpy due to her own ailment of Crohn’s disease, other artists like George Gessert had less personal applications of their research and work.  George Gessert’s experimentation as a horticulturist was to explore the influence of genetics on hybrids and plant aesthetics. 

The flower above is only one of the many works of George Gessert as he contributed to plant breeds as well as the general aesthetics of the various species of life on Earth. 

References

Gattaca. USA: Andrew Niccol, 1997. DVD.

High, Kathy. 'Projects: Embracing Animal'. Kathyhigh.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 8 May 2015.

Stelarc.org,. 'Stelarc // Ear On Arm'. N.p., 2015. Web. 8 May 2015.

Vesna, Victoria. Lecture. DESMA 9. Web. 6 May 2015.

Viewingspace.com,. 'George Gessert: Genetics And Culture'. N.p., 2015. Web. 8 May 2015.