Phytoteratology
2016
– installation
incubators with phytopolutans (human hormone-informed plant embryos)
Avtorica: Špela Petrič
Oblikovanje: Miha Turšič
Inženiring in realizacija: Scenart, d. o. o.
Podpora: Ministrstvo za kulturo RS; MMC KIBLA, Maribor; Creative Industries Fund NL; Zone2Source, Amsterdam; Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Amsterdam; Waag Society, Amsterdam; Sylvius Laboratory, Leiden
Znanstveni nadzor: dr. Remko Offringa, Omid Karami
Zahvala: Henrik Cornelisson van de Ven
In Phytoteratology, new media artist Špela Petrič explores the possibility of authentic interaction between humans and plants facilitated by organic molecules as trans-species carriers of information. She hopes to induce somatic plant embryos from plant tissue cultures in vitro using sex hormones isolated from her urine. In other words, to create a plant embryo whose development human hormones have in part triggered.
In Phytoteratology, intercognition between the artist and the plant grown as a tissue culture is mediated through human bodily substances, which influence the phenotype of the plant. This is possible due to points of convergence in the signaling pathways of both organismal types, where the forgotten evolutionary connection between plants and humans has not yet been lost.
The project does not include any genetically modified organisms, processes of genetic manipulation or toxic substances and therefore does not require any special permission to be exhibited.
Špela Petrič (1980) has been continually active in the field of bioart for over five years. Her high level of qualification is supported by a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, and an MA in transmedia. In the last two years, she created 7 intermedia projects, which were exhibited in 22 referential venues both home and abroad, either as solo or group exhibitions, or as part of festivals: retrospective exhibition 2005–2015 MSUM (SI), Abandon Normal Devices (UK), Ars Electronica (AT),Touch Me Festival (HR), Freies Museum (D), Wonderlab MSUV (XS), Superconduction (LV), MU (NL). She received the prestigious Bioart and Design Award, an honorary mention at Prix Ars Electronica and at BIO50, a jury mention at Core22 contest, and a nomination for the OHO Award. She lives and works in Ljubljana.
Project RISK CHANGE (2016–2020) is co-funded by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union.
The project is also supported by the Municipality of Maribor and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.
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