Photo: Chrystelle Fontaine
As Professor Vesna mentions, biotechnology and art is a very controversial topic. Even though I think art is meant to arouse emotions, some of these biotechnology pieces aroused horror and disapproval. I think that artists should be allowed to experiment with biotechnology as long as it brings no harm. I also think that artists working with scientists in the lab is a great way to bridge the gap between the two worlds.
When Eduardo Kac claimed the GFP bunny as an art piece, Professor Vesna mentions that animal rights activists called it abuse while scientists dismissed it as silly (Vesna). Despite that, in his article, Kac mentions that “[the GFP bunny] immediately awoke in me a strong and urgent sense of responsibility for her well-being” (Kac). Since he genuinely cared for the bunny, it dismisses the claims of the animal activists and scientists. In addition, Kira O’Riley “explored traditional lace making techniques with tissue culturing to create invitro living lace of skin culture from cells biopsied from her body” (Vesna). I believe she has the right to do this since the cells were from her own body. Overall, it seems their art has not caused harm.
Adam Zaretsky said “We breed our meat for tenderness, why shouldn't we breed ourselves for intelligence or good looks? The point of presenting you with all of the most recent technology is to underscore the fact that the ethical debate is important” (Zaretsky). I think that even though some of the work in biotechnology arouses fear and disapproval, these works had to be done to spark talk about the ethics in this field. I believe that once a consensus on ethics is reached, biotechnology + art won’t be as controversial. In addition, these debates will ultimately strengthen their values and collective consciousness.
Kac also said brings up the issue of “Ongoing dialogue between professionals of several disciplines… and the public on cultural and ethical implications of genetic engineering” (Kac). Since this topic seems to force discussion and artists are working with scientists in the lab, the gap between the two worlds is lessening.
Mixing bio + art can create things like:
Works Cited
Kac, Eduardo. “GFP Bunny.” Rabbit Remix. Web. Accessed 9 May 2017. http://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html#gfpbunnyanchor
NikonMicroscopes. “2016 Nikon Small World in Motion Competition - First Place.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 14 Dec. 2016. Web. 9 May 2017.
“Understanding GMOS & What It Means for Your Food.” Honestly. The Honest Company Inc, 30 Oct. Web. Accessed 9 May 2017. https://blog.honest.com/understanding-gmos/#
Vesna, Victoria. “5 bioart pt1 1280x720.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sep. 2013. Web. 9 May 2017.
Vesna, Victoria. “5 BioArt pt2.” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 18 Sep. 2013. Web. 9 May 2017.
Zaretsky, Adam. “The Art of Germline Mutagenesis.” Aesthetics, Mutation, Ethics, and Heredity. Emutagen.com. Web. Accessed 9 May 2017. http://emutagen.com/germline.html
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