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Dec 21, 2024
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ARTH 388 - Art, Science, and Making Art out of Living Things3 hours
Contemporary artists are increasingly using scientific techniques, laboratory processes, and living things for making art. This work incorporates microbiology, the physical sciences, information technologies, human biology and living systems, kinetics, and robotics-and comments upon such diverse issues as eugenics, environmental issues, and artificial intelligence. We will look at the development and history of this kind of artmaking, as well as specific works and artists, such as: Eduardo Kac, who spliced the genes of a bunny with those of a phosphorescent frog, producing “Alba” who glows in the dark; Damien Hirst, who creates an artwork out of a decaying cow head so that it breeds maggots and flies; Mel Chin, who creates “Revival Field” on a toxic site using plants that clean the soil. What are the artistic, scientific, and social preconditions that have made this kind of science-based art conceptually and technologically possible? How does this type of art critique the cultural, philosophical, and social questions related to scientific and technological research. What are the possible dangers posed by biotechnological advancement? For instance, what are the ethical issues related to using someone’s DNA as art? How does this art call the concept of “nature” itself into question? While the primary focus of the class is contemporary BioArt: art that uses living materials (such as bacteria, blood, plants and animals) as its medium in techniques that involve transformative genetics, toxic waste cleanup, or biotechnological practices, it will include any art that collaborates art and science and challenges us to think about the ethics of such artwork. Assignments include reading, discussion, papers, presentations, and creation of our own hypothetical artworks.
This course satisfies the fine arts core area requirement.
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