I found this week's course topics on the fusion between biotechnology and art particularly interesting because they focused a lot on the social ramifications of artists using biotechnology as a platform, and less on the actual aesthetics of the art itself. One of the most compelling texts to me was Eduardo Kac's inspiration behind the GFP Bunny project.
In discussing trends in the perception of art through time, Kac writes that "throughout the twentieth century art progressively moved away from pictorial representation,..., visual contemplation. Artists searching for new directions that could more directly respond to social transformations gave emphasis to process, concept,..., and critical discourse." In the context of the GFP Bunny project, Kac explains that the artistry behind the project lies not in any fundamentally new advances in genetic engineering; rather, it comes from its role in inspiring a discussion on the delicate interplays between "family life, social difference, scientific procedure, interspecies communication, public discussion, ethics, media interpretation, and art context..."
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| Eduardo Kac pictured along with Alba, the bunny used in the GFP Bunny project. As Eduardo describes, Alba's luminescent abilities are only demonstrated when illuminated with particular wavelengths of light. (images courtesy of ekac.org) |
In discussing trends in the perception of art through time, Kac writes that "throughout the twentieth century art progressively moved away from pictorial representation,..., visual contemplation. Artists searching for new directions that could more directly respond to social transformations gave emphasis to process, concept,..., and critical discourse." In the context of the GFP Bunny project, Kac explains that the artistry behind the project lies not in any fundamentally new advances in genetic engineering; rather, it comes from its role in inspiring a discussion on the delicate interplays between "family life, social difference, scientific procedure, interspecies communication, public discussion, ethics, media interpretation, and art context..."
In a TED talk given in Vienna, Eduardo makes a very interesting point when he points out that despite what our expectations might be, creating "new animals" has been a part of human society for thousands of years. Fantastical creatures such as the Minotaur in Greek mythology or the Golem in Jewish folklore are just a few examples of this. However, it is only recently that we have had the technological means to actually realize these animals and to truly bring life to them. Combined with his belief that art is and has always been an engine for social change, I am now able to understand and fully appreciate Eduardo Kac's approach to merging biotechnology and art.
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| Researcher Charles Vacanti implanted an ear-like cartilage structure into a mouse, raising ethical questions about this practice. |
As this field of art continues to gain ground, the ethics of such a medium for artistic expression will inevitably become a significant point of contention for society. Does experimentation with existing life effectively rob a sentient being of its "right to normalcy"? At what point in the developmental stage of new life can we consider something to be "living" and thus prescribed all the rights of a living being. I believe artists such as Eduardo Kac have gone to great lengths to establish the safety and wellbeing of their subjects, but this is certainly not a universal opinion, nor do I see the work of all bio-artists as being ethical. But we can certainly appreciate their efforts in spurring discussions on this important topic.
References
Gobonobo. The Vacanti mouse. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 May 2012. Web. 14 May 2017.
References
Gobonobo. The Vacanti mouse. Digital image. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 May 2012. Web. 14 May 2017.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacanti_mouse#/media/File:Vacanti_mouse.jpg>.
Kac, Eduardo. "GFP Bunny." KAC. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2017.
<http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor>.
Kruszelnicki, Karl S. "Mouse with human ear." ABC - Australian Broadcasting Corporation. N.p., 02 June 2006. Web. 14 May 2017.
Kruszelnicki, Karl S. "Mouse with human ear." ABC - Australian Broadcasting Corporation. N.p., 02 June 2006. Web. 14 May 2017.
<http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/06/02/1644154.htm>.
TEDxTalks. "What if art could truly create biological life? | Eduardo Kac | TEDxVienna." YouTube. YouTube, 01 Dec. 2015. Web. 14 May 2017.
Vaage, Nora S. "What Ethics for Bioart?" NanoEthics 10.1 (2016): 87-104. Web. 14 May 2017.
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