Credit: Ken Huang
Paul Vanouse (US)
The America Project is a biotechnological art installation that produces a “collective genetic portrait.” For decades, DNA has been regarded as the sign of our individuality and identity. The artist applies the process of DNA gel electrophoresis to show that the DNA of humans is actually nearly identical.
The saliva samples collected from visitors are first mixed, and then the segments from their DNA that almost all people have in common are extracted and amplified. This collective DNA is then prepared so that it produces clearly recognizable images – symbolic visualizations of our common identity. With this playful and radical appropriation of molecular and bio-informative tools by art, Paul Vanouse seeks to inform us about the use, the application, and the public perception of this technology and to make us more aware of this issue.
