polymorphic [d(eoxyribo)n(ucleic) a(cid)]: a love story
This installation consists two wall mounted plates containing samples of DNA and corresponding digital sequences from my partner and I. The DNA sequence is derived from a collaboration between myself and scientists at NYU Medical Center, Study of Human Genomics, and the American Museum of Natural History, Center for Comparative Genomics.
The DNA sequences are visualized by using two video monitors (with audio), and computers running custom software written in Java. A synergistic interaction exists between the DNA sequence and the custom software to trigger video. The video depicts lips speaking the DNA sequence, mapped to the Roman alphabet. The disembodied lips take turns speaking the code to one another, at times interrupting, at other times remaining silent.
The DNA, while invisible is encased in visible plates which are laser etched with contemporary scientific iconography, creating a decorative surface
polymorphic [d(eoxyribo)n(ucleic) a(cid)]: a love story looks at the contemporary methodology for encoding DNA, and it's application and ethical ambiguities.
The web based documented process of creating the installation comprises the theoretical investigation of turning material DNA into binary information, with special attention to lab process.
I am looking at the current scientific lab practice of extracting DNA, and treatment of human materiality as it moves into binary representation. With special attention to Norbert Wiener's cybernetic theory, Lily Kay's analysis of the inherent informatic bias in DNA science, and theoretical writings by Marx, Deleuze + Guattari, and contemporary thinkers such as Thacker, Massumi, and Agamben.

I have a long standing interest in our relationship to the biological world, and how a part of and apart from it we are. In exploring issues between technology and biology, I have been able to reveal the cultural contextulization of this relationship and explore personal issues of inner relationship to the external environment. As an artist, I have been able to create projects that critically challenge and subvert accepted perceptions of the relationship between art, nature, and technology.

Intersection of art, biology, and technology

The general public

This video installation is mounted on a wall, using 2 32 in diameter acrylic plates, with small video monitors mounted in the center of the plates. Each plates runs from it's own mac mini computer. the two plates interact with one another, through code (not physically) and video. It also has a spoken words.

As above.

Discovered the process of turning flesh into data, and recoding DNA code into media by using algorithmic rule based programming.