Extremer Sculpture!!

[fritchie]

I was thinking about the community forum this a.m. as I noticed an article in the paper about this being the fiftieth anniversary of discovery of DNA, the main design molecule of earthly life, and about the decoding of three-billion DNA-base human DNA. This gave me the following idea about a very extreme form of sculpture.

High-school students in the U. S. and probably elsewhere can move genetic elements from organism to organism as part of science discovery, teaching-learning classes. Generally, they may put a fluorescence gene into a tapeworm, for example, and they deposit the result in the trash when term is ended. But what if someone didn’t discard the result, and set it free to propagate in the real world? Frankenstein? I don’t know. I expect that these science-learning tools are designed to prevent just such a situation, and in any event, native organisms would outcompete most such simply constructed “designer” organisms.

The sculpture idea is this: We have figurative sculpture, performance sculpture, video sculpture, computer sculpture, conceptual sculpture. Why not newly created living sculpture? Why not create new life forms as sculpture? If sculpture is Three-D design expressed in physical form, this would be one of the most powerful possibilities. Any takers?

[gordonrogers]

Well, there's seals - a labrador crossed with a sleeping bag.

or this (http://anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson.html)



Its an interesting ethical one, deciding whats merely living and what is sentient (like vegetarians who eat fish)

In a sence its only fair to do it to your self, but genetic manipulation doesn't really work like that (like an aftermarket add-on)

If it did I'm sure Mathew Barney would be first in the cue

[redrajah]

it's all about sex isn't it and the ability to reproduce. is that what makes a "life form". seems to me that many works of art already have that ability. like here (http://sculpture.net/community/showthread.php?postid=588#post588)

[fritchie]

redrajah - I found your “like here” link a little confusing. It brings up the whole thread “Art contrasted with Craft”. I guess that’s the nature of Russ’ link addresses, and I expect you are referring to the various reproductions of Michelangelo’s David.

That’s a very interesting comparison. “David” doesn’t reproduce on his own, but he has, many times, through the agency of other humans, much like the extremer form of art I suggested.

Other life forms also need external agents for reproduction, such as viruses. And reproduction doesn’t always involve sex, even beyond the examples cited here. Many single-cell organisms (animals included) reproduce asexually. How boring! And most plants can.

Obviously, this suggestion was little facetious, but I do think it is in the spirit of Conceptual Sculpture. Anymore thoughts, anyone?

[Araich]

http://www.ozco.gov.au/issues/venice/images/works/yf_face_detail.jpg

Do you mean like this (http://www.ozco.gov.au/issues/venice/en/images.html)

[parkartist]

I know of at least one case where a mjor hospital supported the creation of living art. Three years ago I was shown a "lab/studio" at Massachusetts General Hospital where two sculptors were given space and access to facilities to grow life forms in test tubes and petri dishes and then photograph them. They used state-of-the-art equipment to incubate and sustain various forms. They were note controlling DNA, that's for sure, but it was life, albeit short lived.

In one was not there to witness it, the art was only viewable in their published book of photos.

PA

[fritchie]

The head on Araich’s cited image bears an uncanny resemblance to an endangered antelope I saw in the news recently, from southeast Asia, I believe. Maybe that’s the future of wildlife preservation.

[onle36]

HOLLYWOOD HAS BEEN CREATIG LIVING SCULPTURE IN ITS FANTASY AND HORRORMOVIES FOR MANY YEARS...

[Araich]

Just because something has sculptural elements, sculpture does not it make.

IMHO

[fritchie]

Araich - Bounce back to the E/I discussion for my views on sculpture, language and syntax.. If you accept that sculpture can be virtual (present in concept or imagination only), the works referenced fit my definition, at least.