This week we touched upon a
very controversial topic, which is that of Biotechnology. When discussing this
issue with the third culture of art, we can see a different point of view that
perhaps we haven’t been allowed to do so in the past. BioArt is a concept that
was introduced by Joe Davis through works such as “space art”. To me, I see as
a way of allowing someone to see the other side of the ugly side of
biotechnology. For example, when someone argues against it by speaking of how
it affects nature, we see images like those below:
Or we hear about scientific
occurrences such as Eduardo Kac’s GFP Bunny:
As the case with Kac’s fluorescent
bunny, we are led to think that experimenting this way is wrong, as it is unnecessary
to play with natural biology this way. I agree with this, however, upon
thinking about the infusion of art to biotechnology, we can see a different
idea of this combination. Keira Havens is a scientist and CEO of Revolution
Bioengineering she has combined the two by making flowers that change color
throughout the day. Keira’s love for beauty and bioengineering have inspired
who to utilize what she can learn from nature and biology, and use that
knowledge to create something beautiful, her form of art. In the video below in
her TEDxTalk, she explain that it is important to embrace what can be learned
by studying nature and create external forms of it with which one can be
abstained from interfering with nature, yet still utilizing it in a way to
improve how it is appreciated.
Ultimately, Keira’s goal is to break some stereotypes and
inspire people to learn how beautiful biotechnology can be if utilized with the
right process and principle. The video below shows the way that a flower can
change color easily by integrating beer into it and alternating its path:
On her website you are also able to make your own flower by
modifying some chemical compounds yourself. She also provides a teacher's manual on how to educate children into what is scientifically occurring.
Such a way of using this technology in an un-harmful way can
truly benefit the flower avid lover and the individual who truly envisions art. I think that when we think about biotechnology in the form of bio art, it facilitates understanding that "line" we are always afraid of crossing. The line that constitutes the need to change or alter nature and
Kac, Eduardo. "GFP BUNNY." GFP BUNNY.
N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2016
Vesna, Victoria. “5 bioart pt1" Lecture. YouTube.
Uconlineprogram, 18 Sept. 2013. Web.
8 May. 2016. https://cole2.uconline.edu/courses/484297/pages/unit-6-resources?module_item_id=8599406
Images:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rlfPqER4gL0/maxresdefault.jpg
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRYuN9GaN7I
https://vimeo.com/108904322
Create Your Own Flower:
http://revolutionbio.co/home-2/flower/
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