Art through Biology: Microbial Art vs Genetic Art

By Amna Ali

Introduction

Stippling, pouring, splattering. Titrating, weighing, purifying. The former refers to artistic techniques intended to fulfill a wide range of human endeavors and the resulting works that reflect aesthetic beauty, emotional heft, or mental concepts. The latter references laboratory techniques used when answering logical question through the scientific method. Despite the variety of differences between the visual arts and natural sciences, the integration of the two subjects can lead to an interdisciplinary approach and new perspective to problems within a broader societal context. When these two subjects integrate, they break boundaries and open a new field where art can be made through a scientific lense.

Microbiological Art

Microorganisms are cultured in certain patterns to produce artwork known as microbial art, agar art, or germ art. Bacteria, yeast, fungi, or less frequently, protists, can be employed as microorganisms. The bacteria may be chosen for their inherent coloration or may be genetically modified to express fluorescent proteins, which will cause them to fluoresce when examined under ultraviolet light.

Genetics Art

Genetic Art is art involving DNA. A huge, unrecognized genetic folk art exists in the domestication of ornamental plants, pets, sports animals, and consciousness-altering narcotic plants. Some ecological and earth art contains genetic elements. Any piece of genetic art receives its significance from the social setting, which includes art history. For instance, Watson is shown in terms of DNA and scientific data in Kevin Clarke's Portrait of James D. Watson, which displays grids, graphs, and amino acid sequences. It is noteworthy that Clark does not question one of the tenets of Western portraiture—that humans are at the center of the universe.

The art exhibition

Microbial art has been a wide interest of many. They create art and show their creativity in different forms. The following amazing piece is made by Maria Penil. The art perfectly represents how microorganism can be used as paints.