Molecular Aesthetics: Living Systems in Art and Biodesign

Ingeborg Reichle
Institut für Bildende & Mediale Kunst, Medientheorie
2017W, Proseminar (PS), 2.0 SemStd., LV-Nr. S01950

Beschreibung

The subject of the seminar will introduce students to selected approaches in Bioart and Biodesign as well as to the do-it-yourself biology (DIYbio) practices employed. A number of current art and design projects will be addressed that create art using living matter. Another focus will be on new cross-disciplinary approaches in design, which seek to implement biological principles in the design process and even try to integrate living organisms as essential components thereby initiating collaboration between designers and biologists. Current approaches in Biodesign aspire to go beyond the biology-inspired approach of bionics and biomimicry, and aim at transforming and applying structures, procedures, and developmental principles of biological systems to technology and technical applications. Biodesign not only seeks to improve industrial and mechanical systems through introducing concepts and shapes based on nature, it also wants to replace these systems with biological processes. We will also turn our attention towards current DIY biology practices, like biohacking or biopunk. For about a decade now DIY biology practices have contributed to open source policies in the sciences on a global scale, with the aim of making science available to everyone who is interested in engaging, for example, in genetic engineering, synthetic biology or genome editing like CRISPR - including non-professionals. The course will also examine a number of science-based Bioart projects to develop a critical understanding of the role of art in the twenty-first century. Science-based Bioart has provoked greater reflection on the limits of manipulating and/or creating life within a regime of biotechnology, and contributed to rising awareness about the new relationship of ontology and aesthetics in the age of technoscience. We will focus on the production of art that is related to technoscience; not only because of the cutting-edge technologies it uses but most importantly because from this relationship a model emerges which is fruitful for understanding the production of reality with the realm of biotechnologies.

Prüfungsmodalitäten

You have to attend the lecture each week, unless you have a good reason for your absence (e.g. illness or other difficulties). To participate effectively in class required readings are expected. Each student is also required to a written research essay (12-15 pages) about a given topic or about your own topic, after discussing the topic with the lecturer.

Anmerkungen

It is important for seminar participants to attend the introductory session on October 10, 2017. The topics for the lectures will be assigned and information provided about the subjects and issues that we will deal with over the course of the term. Documents and materials will be available online at BASE Angewandte.

Schlagwörter

Biodesign, bioart, technoscience

Termine

10. Oktober 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7 (Vorbesprechung)
17. Oktober 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7 (Vorbesprechung)
24. Oktober 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
31. Oktober 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
07. November 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
14. November 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7 (Gastvortrag: Lucie Strecker)
21. November 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
05. Dezember 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
12. Dezember 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
19. Dezember 2017, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7 (Gastvortrag: Günter Seyfried, Georg Tremmel)
09. Jänner 2018, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
16. Jänner 2018, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7 (Gastvortrag: Tanja Gesell)
23. Jänner 2018, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7
30. Jänner 2018, 16:15–17:45 Seminarraum 7

LV-Anmeldung

Bis 20. Oktober 2017, 12:00
Per E-Mail: ingeborg.reichle@uni-ak.ac.at

Lehramt: Unterrichtsfach kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis (3.0 ECTS) 067/003.80

Lehramt: Unterrichtsfach dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis (3.0 ECTS) 074/003.80

TransArts - Transdisziplinäre Kunst (Bachelor): Theoretische Grundlagen: Theoretische Grundlagen (3.0 ECTS) 180/003.01

Mitbelegung: möglich

Besuch einzelner Lehrveranstaltungen: möglich