WEEK 6: BIOTECH + ART

With scientific knowledge of biotech expanding, more people, including artists and non-artists, are transitioning from passive subjects to active participants. It is this public participation that allows new viewpoints to be brought into the scientific world, and questions the limits of human creativity.

Kathy High’s Embracing Animal installation used transgenic rats, which had been injected with human DNA, and showcased the relationship between humans and animals. High treated her rats as her “sisters”, rather than general scientific specimens. Her treatment is unique as rats are usually not attributed with such importance by scientists in the biotech community.

Rat from Kathy High's Embracing Animal Installation (kathyhigh.com)

Kelty thus may consider Kathy a Victorian Gentleman not just due to her view as an “aesthete intellectual”, but because of how her artwork sheds light on a renewed focus on transgenic rats as animals that help us humans identify health issues. Therefore, they deserve to be treated respectfully.

Eduardo Kac is another Victorian Gentleman, whose BioArt touches upon genetic modification. He created Alba by injecting a rabbit with the GFP from a jellyfish, creating a unique type of animal. Although the same protein is useful for scientists to learn about previously invisibly processes, the use of biotech here as transgenic art raises ethical concerns. Although Kac stressed the care that must go into creating such art, should anyone be able to create transgenic art? Should such animal manipulation be considered “art”?

Eduardo Kac with Alba from ekac.org

I believe that the manipulation of living organisms should not be done purely for the means of artistic exploration or personal interest. Standards must be implemented for artists, such as High and Kac, that require individuals to explain the purpose behind their work in order to ensure living organisms are not mistreated or manipulated for no significant reason. An example case meeting such standards may be one where artists collaborate with scientists to conduct research and advance their knowledge regarding specific cells.  

Because such a system is not in place, genetic modification has begun to be accepted by more people in a wider variety of ways. For example, what was once used to detect lethal chromosome errors in embryos is now being used to decide which gender one wants their baby to be. Although couples are simply selecting which embryo they want to use based on the gender, it is feared that doing so is one step in the direction of genetically modified human embryos.    

Image of baby & DNA from economist.com

REFERENCES

Allen, Jaclyn. "Boy or girl? More and more Colorado parents are choosing their baby's gender." 7NEWS. N.p., 13 May 2017. Web.

High, Kathy. "Kathy High: Visual/Media Artist, Independent Curator, Educator." Kathy High: Projects: Embracing Animal. N.p., n.d. Web.

Kac, Eduardo. GFP BUNNY. N.p., n.d. Web.

Kelty, Chris. “Meanings of Participation: Outlaw Biology?”. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.

Levy, Ellen. “Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classifications.” Context Providers: Conditions of Meaning in Media Arts. Eds. Margot Lovejoy, Christiane Paul, and Victoria Vesna. University of Chicago Press: 2011. Print.

Vesna, Victoria. “Biotechnology & Art” Desma 9: Art, Science and Technology.  Los Angeles, CA. September 18, 2013. Lecture. Web.

Vesna, Victoria. “Biotechnology & Art Part 3” Desma 9: Art, Science and Technology.  Los Angeles, CA. May 17, 2012. Lecture. Web.