Talking about biotechnology and art this week, it is amazing to see that over the past decade, more and more artists are transitioning from the studio to the laboratory. As we learned in the lecture videos, beginning with the pioneer of biotechnology, Joe Davis, many different technologies such as tissue cultures, genetic modification of plants and foods, and prosthetics, biotechnology and art are converging to increase sustainability and the lives of many.
One way that biotech presents itself as a valid expressive medium for life is through bionic body parts. Bionic eyes, exoskeletons to help people walk, and robotic limbs that can be controlled by the mind are just a few examples of how biotechnology, combined with extensive research of the nervous system, can help people regain normal functions. As told on smithsonian.com, Bertolt Meyer, a man born with only an inch or so of arm below his left elbow, has worn a prosthetic limb since he was 3 years old. Now, with the help of advanced technology and innovation in bionics, he wears a bionic hand called i-limb. Only weighing a couple of pounds and containing skeletal fingers, Meyer is now able to perform daily functions as if he had a real arm.
Another way that biotech us used to create unique living art is through the use of fluorescent proteins and GFP filters in order to visualize the uptake of particles into cancer cells. The GFP Bunny, Alba, was used by Eduardo Kac to create a piece of art that can never be replicated. This technique is one-of-a-kind and takes another step towards forward thinking in the field of bioart, but the ethics are questionable because the bunny is harmed in the process.
Sources:
Brumfiel, Geoff. "The Insane and Exciting Future of the Bionic Body." Smithsonian. N.p., Sept. 2013. Web. 09 May 2015.
Vesna, Victoria. “Bioart, Part 1” Lecture.. Youtube, 18 Sep. 2013. Web. 9 May. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaThVnA1kyg.
Philipkoski, Kristen. "RIP: Alba, the Glowing Bunny." WIRED. N.p., 12 Aug. 2002. Web. 10 May 2015.
"Green Fluorescent Protein - Cool Uses - Alba." Green Fluorescent Protein - Cool Uses - Alba. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.
"The Body Bionic." CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.
Photos:
Bertolt Meyer, Who Is Fitted with a Sophisticated I-limb Bionic Hand. Digital image. The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 May 2015.
Body Traversed by Biotechnology and Art. Digital image. Media Arts and Technology Graduate Program. University of California, Santa Barbara, 1 May 2012. Web. 9 May 2015.
GFB Bunny. Digital image. Rabbit Remix. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2015.
My dad was in the military and I have seen a lot of his fellow soldiers become amputees in battle. So the part about bionic limbs was extremely interesting to me because it has helped these soldiers when they return. Bionic limbs also have helped children, athletes, and so forth, carry out daily activities that would otherwise be impossible. Your example of the bunny as well was intriguing. Do you happen to know if the bunny survived?
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