SymbioticA Tissue Engineering Workshop for Artists

SymbioticA Tissue Engineering Workshop for Artists, part of the 2007 Subtle Technologies Festival - in situ – art | body | medicine :: May 18, 19, 20, 2007 :: Toronto, Canada.

The increasing recognition of technological intervention and integration in medicine and the body has introduced tissue culture (TC) and tissue engineering (TE) as new possibilities for artistic engagement. Bioart, an emerging art form that uses the biological as its medium, explores the vast possibilities of biotechnology. The use of TE for non medical ends is also been explored in areas such as food production (in-vitro meat), leather replacement, locomotion, research models, and art.

Biomedical research has a major influence on perceptions of body, self and medical thinking. TE enables researchers to grow three dimensional living tissue constructs of varying sizes, shapes and tissue types. These constructs continue living and growing in-vitro or as a “new kind of body”.
This two and a half day intensive workshop will introduce artists and other interested people (including architects, designers, ethicists, policy makers) to basic principles of animal TC and TE, as well as to its history and the different artistic projects working with TC and TE. No prior experience necessary.

The workshop was developed by Oron Catts, Ionat Zurr and Dr Stuart Hodgetts and is conducted by artist/researcher/curator Oron Catts, the Artistic Director of SymbioticA (University of Western Australia).

SymbioticA is an artistic laboratory dedicated to the research, learning and critique of life sciences. SymbioticA is the first research laboratory of its kind, in that it enables artists to engage in wet biology practices in a biological science department. Catts has eleven years of experience researching tissue technologies as an artistic medium through the Tissue Culture and Art Project (TC&A) that he founded in 1996.

Tissue engineering is the use of a combination of cells, engineering and materials methods, and suitable biochemical and physio-chemical factors to improve or replace biological functions. While most definitions of tissue engineering cover a broad range of applications, in practice the term is closely associated with applications that repair or replace portions of or whole tissues.

Dates and Times:

May 18, Friday, 1pm~5pm
May 19, Saturday, 10am~5pm
May 20, Sunday, 10am~5pm

Location: University of Toronto

There are approximately 25 positions available for this workshop, including up to 5 fully funded scholarships.

More information and application procedures are detailed on the website.

Subtle Technologies Festival includes Performances, Exhibitions, Panel Discussions, Symposium, and Community-based Artwork in addition to this Workshop. Subtle Technologies is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council, and the Australian Network for Art and Technology.