Biotechnology and Art
The coolest thing about biotechnology this week was learning about George Gessert's genetic engineering and selective breeding as artistic techniques to explore the boundaries of life itself. Gessert's work raises fascinating questions about the definition and value of artistic media and technologies and the boundaries of human creativity.
One of Gessert's coolest contributions was his use of transgenics, mutilation, mutation, recombinance, and selective breeding as artistic techniques. By manipulating living organisms, he created new forms of life that challenged our conventional understanding of what it means to be alive (Vesna, 2023). For example, he bred plants with unusual color patterns and shapes, creating new species that were both beautiful and scientifically significant. Gessert's work also raises important questions about the ethical implications of using biotechnology as an artistic medium. In an article titled "Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classification," Ellen K. Levy notes that Gessert's work "poses challenges for scientists and ethicists who are struggling with the implications of biotechnology on the larger world" (Levy, 2003). While Gessert's work was often praised for its beauty and scientific value, some critics questioned the ethics of manipulating living organisms for artistic purposes.
This made me think in a grander scheme, what certain ethical consequences there are for genetically choosing characteristics in children, such as eye and hair color. Does this break an ethical boundary?
Another example of the potential ethical implications of biotechnology in art can be seen in the case of "super weed" taking a strong hold in Utah. Ed Yeates reported that scientists accidentally created a hybrid weed in a lab that was much more robust than anticipated, causing concerns that it could take over other native plants and potentially have negative effects on the ecosystem (Yeates, 2009).
Despite these concerns, Gessert argued that there is value in using biotechnology as an artistic medium. In an interview with the art journal Cabinet, he noted, "we need to explore the boundaries of what is permissible and what is not permissible in terms of the manipulation of living organisms" (Gessert, 2006). Gessert believed that artists have a unique role to play in exploring these boundaries and helping to shape the ethical and moral frameworks that govern our use of biotechnology.
Gessert's work also raises important questions about the definition and value of artistic media and technologies. As Ruth West's questions suggest, there is a tension between the desire for artistic freedom and the need for ethical and moral standards in the use of biotechnology as an artistic medium. Some argue that artists should be subject to the same restrictions as scientists in industry and academia, while others believe that artists should have more freedom to explore the boundaries of life itself (Vesna, 2023). Ultimately, Gessert's work challenges us to reconsider our understanding of what it means to be alive and the boundaries of human creativity.
Works Cited
Gessert, George. "Interview with George Gessert." Cabinet, no. 23, 2006, pp. 82-87.
Levy, Ellen K. "Defining Life: Artists Challenge Conventional Classification." Leonardo, vol. 36, no. 3, 2003, pp. 175-179.
Vesna, Victoria. Week 6 Biotechnology+Art Lecture Part 5. 2023
Vesna, Victoria. Week 6 Biotechnology+Art Lecture Part 1. 2023
Yeates, Ed. "'Super weed' taking a stronghold in Utah." ABC News, 29 Jun. 2006, https://www.abc4.com/news/super-weed-taking-strong-hold-in-utah/.
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