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Is science the new art? Starting from this provocative question, art historian Ingeborg Reichle examines in her book fascinating responses of contemporary artists when faced with recent scientific and technological advances. In the last two decades a growing number of artists has left the traditional artistic playground to work instead in scientific contexts such as the laboratories of molecular biology, robotics, and artificial life. New art forms like Transgenic Art'' and ''Bio-Art have emerged from the laboratory. These art forms differ dramatically from traditional artistic approaches that explore the natural: they have crossed the boundaries between the artificial and the natural, and thus provoke passionate debates about the growing influence of science and technology. This first comprehensive survey presents a well-selected number of significant artworks and with over 280 colour illustrations provides a broad overview of this new and relevant development in art.
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fl SpringerWienNewYork
Art in the Age of Technoscience Genetic Engineering, Robotics, and Artificial Life in Contemporary Art
I N G EBORG R EICHL E
With a preface by Robert Zwijnenberg
Translated by Gloria Custance
SpringerWienNewYork
Ingeborg Reichle Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities This publication is funded by the Andrea von Braun Foundation. This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machines or similar means, and storage in data banks. Product Liability: The publisher can give no guarantee for the information contained in this book. This also refers to that on drug dosage and application thereof. In each individual case the respective user must check the accuracy of the information given by consulting other pharmaceutical literature. The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for gen eral use.
© 2009 Springer-Verlag/\Vien Printed in Austria SpringerWienNewYork is a part of Springer Science + Business Media springer.at Typesetting: Druckerei Paul GmbH & Co KG, 88131 Lindau/Bodensee, Germany Printing and binding: Holzhausen Druck & M edien GmbH, 1140 Wien, Austria Cover photo: The Tissue Culture & Art Project (Oron Carts and Ionat Zurr), Victimless Leather - A Prototype of Stitch-less Jacket grown in a Technoscientific "Body" (2004). Courtesy of the Tissue Culture & Art Project (Oron Catts & Ionat Zurr). The TC&A Project is hosted by SymbioticA, the Centre of Excellence in Biological Arts, The University of Western Australia. Printed on acid-free and chlorine-free bleached paper. SPIN: 12030873 Library of Congress Control Number: 2009931223 W ith numerous coloured figures. ISBN 978-3-211-78160-9 SpringerWienNewYork
10 Hilli and Matthias, who both nurtured my curiosity for science and lovefor art
Contents
Acknowledgments Preface by Robert Zwijnenberg
IX
X1ll
1 Art in the Age of Techno science: Transgressing the Boundaries 2 The Dawning of the Biotech Century
15
3 Art in the Genetic Age
33
4 When Life Becomes Art
63
5 Genesthetics: Molecular Biology and the Arts
97
6 Art in the Age of Genetic Engineering
121
7 From Life-like Machines to a Silicon Second Nature
145
8 The Living and the Life-like: Art and Artificial Life
167
9 Art and Digital Evolution
193
10 Epilog
213
Illustrations