BiofiliA -Base for Biological Arts at Future Art Base, Aalto University, Finland

Call for Participants: SymbioticA Biotech for Artists Workshop 28th January-1st February, 2013 Saturday 2nd February, official inauguration of Aalto BiofiliA wet biology laboratory

Deadline for applications- Friday 26th November 2012

BiofiliA, Base for Biological Arts, Aalto University, Finland, in collaboration with SymbioticA, The University of Western Australia is organising an intensive five day workshop for artists and other interested people. After the workshop the opening of the new laboratory and biological arts programme will be celebrated.

The workshop will be led by SymbioticA's Director/Aalto visiting Professor Oron Catts and BiofiliA’s scientific collaborator Marika Hellman.

This is a hands-on workshop where the tools of modern biology are demonstrated through artistic engagement, which in turn gives voice to the broader philosophical and ethical exploration into the extent of human intervention with other living things. It involves exploration of biological technologies and issues stemming from their use; it serves as a theoretical and practical introduction to the creation of biological art and is aimed at mentoring artists in issues of biotechnology and the life sciences.

The workshop will cover hands-on engagement with some of the fundamental tool of modern biology in order to be able to carry out and critique manipulation of living systems from an informed practical perspective. The practical components include DNA extraction and fingerprinting, genetic engineering, animal tissue culture and basic tissue engineering techniques.

Submit expressions of interest to: ulla.taipale@aalto.fi

Media references

Chris Cobilis (SymbioticA) +61 8 6488 5583