Andre Brodyk Showcase

This work is a multimedia installation combining genetically modified biological materials with inorganic forms. The work is situated within contemporary discourse concerning the emergent form known as 'Biotech art'. This new genre adapts and uses biotechnology as new art methods and materials. These new representations are characterised by their distinctive hybrid and interdisciplinary nature and transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries.

The work involves genetic manipulations and is created in a molecular biology laboratory. Given the experimental nature of this work and the relative infancy of the genre of Biotech art, this is new research that explores the manipulation of biological science in an aesthetic and philosophical framework and adapts actual biotechnology protocols to create works of art. These art adaptations of biotechnology models both critique creativity and the nature of bioscience.

The work was invited for inclusion in the curated international exhibition "Art of the Biotech Era" in the Biennale Festival of Arts in Adelaide (2004). It resulted in a chapter contribution to the monograph 'Art in the Biotech Era' published by the Experimental ArtFoundation (2008).

<p>Installation detail of 'glo&copy;k gene'. The vitrines were assembled in a horizonal row under the projected central imagery in the installation at a low-level height, which encouraged viewers to gaze down upon the low order form of life images.</p>
<p>Installation detail of 'glo&copy;k gene' with reflections of illuminated 'black' lights seen directly above Petri dishes housing the living GMO drawings, which are visible inside transparent, sculpted, dome shaped vitrines.</p>
<p>Drawing of a hybrid creature (camel/dog) made with GMO bacteria seen through a transparent Perspex sculpted form known as a vitrine. The vitrines also form part of the safety measures in place for displaying GMOs outside the laboratory in an art space.</p>
<p>Hybrid creature (pig/gun) made with GMO bacteria on agar gel seen through a transparent Petri dish. A very small '00000' sized artist's sable-hair paintbrush dipped into a 'palette' of GMO bacteria is used to create the drawings, and when first made they are nearly invisible until the bacteria multiplies sufficiently in number to create a visible green colour.</p>
<p>This projection from the installation depicts a central hybrid image, a drawing of a camel/gun made with green and red fluorescent protein modified bacteria. The drawing is inserted into the centre of a diagrammatic and fictional circular plasmid map. Plasmids are routinely used in genetic engineering protocols. It represents a synthetic DNA sequence as single letter conventions.</p>