Bioinformatics Art

Bioinformatics art flips visualizations of human progress on its head by combining biological data with algorithmic generation. By combining today's source data and tomorrow's technology, the works raise questions on progress, methodology, and humanity. 

Do we still consider the art form human-centered? What does it mean to be human if it does? Bioinformatics art is making waves in studios and labs today— its history, purpose, and trajectory has attracted the attention of the art world. It melds the importance of retaining humanity when approaching the sciences with the precision of the scientific method. It creates a boundless creative genre that celebrates progress in the sciences, the humanities, and the arts. 

While its microbiological subjects can come from everywhere, Bioinformatics art originated in the lab with subject analysis. As technology improved, manual processes in the lab moved to computers, as scientists created interactive works using biological data as its source code. Bioinformatics began in the 80s and 90s when Eduardo Kac created works such as “GFP Bunny” and “Stelarc,” which were different representations of himself using cells from his body as the source data. Kac is the person who coined the term “bio art” and still creates work today, using everything from the fields of astronomy to biology to develop works that focus on the magnificence of the precision of the universe while highlighting the human perspective of its beauty. 

True to its name, the process of creating bioinformatics art parallels closely with the scientific method. First, data is sourced from DNA sequences and protein structures as the baseline for the works. This data usually comes from discipline-specific databases, such as GenBank and the Protein Data Bank.

Once collected, different computational methods are employed by the artist-scientists depending on their goals for the work. Usually, three different techniques are implemented. Sonification translates the source data into a sound sequence so we can listen to what a process might sound like. The data can also be rerun to attribute different values with musical notes, turning biological processes into songs! One way to think of sonification would be like those plant speakers that went viral a few years ago, showing what different plants would sound like if their leaves were hooked up to a speaker. 3D modeling is where we see larger-scale renderings of double helixes of DNA sequences, cellular regeneration, and cell splicing. Lastly, genetic algorithm generation is the process of running the sample’s data through an algorithm mimicking natural selection to show how this sample could evolve.

The visualization of these works is up to interpretation by the artists and scientists involved, and it often involves algorithmic generation based on their data sets. These will usually be visual or auditory art, depending on the artist’s vision for the final work. Some even choose to use biological samples in their artworks. This is a slight callback to petri dish art, as it is a raw form of bioinformatics in its early stages.

Final works are typically shown at symposiums and galleries alike, showing up in peer-review journals like Leonardo and Ars Electronica. Works like these are frequently displayed along the halls of research complexes and college campuses. This gives these hubs of academia a subjective perspective in a world where objectivity can distance minds from their practice. 

While the arts were born out of collaboration between artists and scientists, they now exist on a trajectory towards advocacy, as bioinformatics arts are employed to destigmatize illnesses by placing them at the forefront of the art. For example, this process is now being used to distribute different scientific and artistic interpretations of HIV by showing us how other people see the same cells. The works are now being used to reinforce the need to destigmatize the virus and propel the sciences to research it further. As art forms like these continue to make strides in both the sciences and the arts, they will become integral to discussions about what it means to showcase humanity’s progress through scientific research. 

Art inspires profound creative thought and discourse in ways the scientific method cannot easily rival. The implications of the intersection of biotechnology and society are immense. Bioinformatics provides an outlet for these discussions while ensuring that the importance of retaining human connection remains paramount. While the process follows a scientific structure, its focal point is the betterment of humanity and the celebration of the human experience, pressing both disciplines forward to progress. 

Bioinformatics art makes complex biological data accessible for the masses to understand. It allows more people to learn about the visual complexities of the human form. By providing the general public with opportunities to view data in such a digestible setting, they can use that information to contribute to conversations about the complexities of the art form and the ethical implications of biotechnological innovation.

©ArtRKL™️ LLC 2021-2024. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ArtRKL™️ and its underscore design indicate trademarks of ArtRKL™️ LLC and its subsidiaries.