Week Six: BioTech + Art

This week's topics covered the merging of biotechnology and creative ability, especially emphasizing how our advancements have allowed for questionable art techniques. Personally, this week's topic made me quite uncomfortable. 

I'm a strong believer that life itself is indeed a valid medium, much like the implanted ear on Stelarc's arm. Each individual person has every right to perform what they will on their own body, and I find it to be a reasonable form of expression, no different from tattoos. 

However, using transgenics, mutilation, mutation, recombinance, and selective breeding as artistic techniques seems akin to "playing god." I see the importance of these techniques when dealing with dangerous diseases or providing enough food to whole populations --uses that promote life-- but find problem when these tools are used either with no important purpose or to endanger creatures. In one specific example, Alba was the bunny that was genetically engineered to fluorescently glow. A recent article shows that she died at just 2 1/2 years of age, which is just half of the normal lab-rabbit life span and less than a quarter of a normal pet rabbit in captivity.

 

I think that there should be more standards for how animals and even bacteria are used in the form of art, if at all. I like to think I'm relatively liberal in my standings, but knowing that life forms of any type are being used for human entertainment seems cruel. While I don't think there should be limits on human expression, I sincerely mean I don't think there should be any on human expression. But, keep it contained. Mutilation of your own body is fine, but please leave rabbits with their white fur. Mutations for the sake of saving people are lovely, but mutating bacteria to send into space is unnecessary. Even when dealing only with normal mediums, paint should be disposed of properly and chemicals used sparingly.

Mr. Joe Davis, the artist who worked to send bacteria
containing the human genome into space.

We have but one earth to create art on, and we shouldn't disrespect it in our process of doing so.

Sources:

"Man implants ear in his arm so the world can eavesdrop on his life." CNet.com. Leslie Katz, 14 August 2015. Web. 13 May. 2017.

"RIP: Alba, the Glowing Bunny." Wired.com. Kristin Philipkoski, 12 August 2002. Web. 13 May. 2017.

Vesna, Victoria. Bioart Pt. 1 https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/684222/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=11226162

Vesna, Victoria. Bioart Pt. 3 https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/684222/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=11226162

Vesna, Victoria. Bioart Pt. 4 https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/684222/pages/unit-6-view?module_item_id=11226162

Pictures:

Joseph Caputo. Digital Image. “Creating art with genes and bacteria.” Elsevier.com. https://www.elsevier.com/connect/creating-art-with-genes-and-bacteria

Eduardo Kac. Digital Image. “GFP Bunny.” Ekac.org. http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html

Nina Sellars. Digital Image. “Man implants ear in his arm so the world can eavesdrop on his life.” https://www.cnet.com/news/man-implants-ear-in-his-arm-so-the-world-can-eavesdrop-on-his-life/