VivoArts: Art and Biology Studio - Wet Lab Practice and Bio-Art Pedagogy

This course will introduce science and humanities students to issues and concepts relating to contemporary arts practices dealing with living biological systems (sometimes refer to as wet biology art practice, Bioart, environmental art, body art, breeding practices). Emphasis is placed on developing critical thought, ethical issues and cross-disciplinary experimentation in art (art/science collaborations, art as research). Students will be introduced to biological lab practices and would be expected to get their hands wet. This course will focus on recent advances in the Life Sciences, both in theory and practice. We will focus on molecular biology, tissue culture, genomics, and developmental biology. We will also discuss the social and ethical implications of these new potentials. We will read about and discuss cultural issues such as gene patenting, population diversity, new reproductive technologies, nature/culture boundaries and more. In particular, the ethics of living art and science production will be debated. Vivoarts is a studio art and science crossover lab meant to aid students from various disciplines in their own exploration of the intersections between art and life.
 

Programme:	April - June 2010
Application:	1 March 2010
Language of instruction:	English
Contact:	Prof.dr.ing R. Zwijnenberg - r.zwijnenberg@hum.leidenuniv.nl