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Disembodied Livestock: The Promise of a Semi-Living Utopia

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 02-2013

DOI: 10.1080/13534645.2013.752062

Agency in movement, Part 2

Publisher: MIT Press - Journals

Date: 06-2015

DOI: 10.1162/LEON_E_01032

Of instrumentalisation of life and the vitality of matter: Aesthetics of creation and control for post-human worlds

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 11-2012

DOI: 10.1177/2043820612468647

Abstract: The cental question explored is what kind of aesthetics strategies can be employed by artists for a post-human world. The growing field of synthetic biology reinforces the pervasive influence of the engineering mindset and aesthetics within the life science laboratories, at the very same historical moment that the artistic interventions have also entered into these spaces. The scientific laboratory, in which artists (as well as engineers) are located, thus cannot be viewed in isolation but is positioned within larger cultural networks that are organised around the maximisation of utility, efficiency and profit. The paper examines the tension between what can be referred to as the engineering aesthetics characterised by the desire and judgement of creation and control versus the aesthetics of vibrancy and agency of matter based on planned utilitarian futility excess and relinquishing of control.

Life as a Raw Material: Illusions of Control

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Date: 09-2012

DOI: 10.3366/SOMA.2012.0060

Abstract: The paper discusses and critiques the concept of the single engineering paradigm. This concepts allude to a future in which the control of matter and life, and life as matter, will be achieved by applying engineering principles through nanotechnology, synthetic biology and, as some suggest, geo-engineering, cognitive engineering and neuro-engineering. We outline some issues in the short history of the field labelled as Synthetic Biology. Furthermore we examine the way engineers, scientists, designers and artists are positioned and articulating the use of the tools of Synthetic Biology to expose some of the philosophical, ethical and political forces and considerations of today as well as some future scenarios. We suggest that one way to enable the possibilities of alternative frames of thought is to open up the know-how and the access to these technologies to other disciplines, including artistic.

Validation of a Novel Theory of Mind Measurement Tool

Publisher: ACM

Date: 08-03-2021

DOI: 10.1145/3434074.3447135

Tissues, Cultures, Art

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Date: 2023

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-25887-9

The Vitality of Matter and the Instrumentalisation of Life

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 2013

DOI: 10.1002/AD.1527

Agency in movement: An introduction

Publisher: MIT Press - Journals

Date: 04-2015

DOI: 10.1162/LEON_A_00973

Abstract: Agency in Movement is a collection of papers responding to ideas concerning perceptions of life and agency through movement. This quest is part of a research project that explores, practically and theoretically, the animation of lab-grown life: Tissue Engineered Muscle Actuator (TEMA). Here the author introduces different approaches to untangle the relations between life and movement.

Animation, Theory of Mind and Humanoid Robots: Creating a Social Robot Video Task

Publisher: MIT Press - Journals

Date: 2022

DOI: 10.1162/LEON_A_02099

Abstract: Theory of Mind (ToM)—a social cognitive ability commonly underdeveloped in in iduals with autism—is necessary to attribute mental states to oneself and others. Research into robot-assisted interventions to improve ToM ability in children with autism has become increasingly popular. However, no appropriate task currently exists to measure the degree of efficacy of robot-assisted interventions targeting ToM ability. The authors demonstrate how animation techniques and principles can be leveraged to develop and produce videos of humanoid robots interacting, which could selectively measure ToM.

Growing Semi-Living Sculptures: the tissue culture & art project

Publisher: MIT Press - Journals

Date: 08-2002

DOI: 10.1162/002409402760181123

Abstract: Tissue engineering promises to replace and repair body organs but has largely been overlooked for artistic purposes. In the last 6 years, the authors have grown tissue sculptures, “semi-living objects,” by culturing cells on artificial scaffolds. The goal of this work is to culture and sustain for long periods tissue constructs of varying geometrical complexity and size, and by that process to create a new artistic palette to focus attention on and challenge perceptions regarding the utilization of new biological knowledge.

Morphology, Characterization and Distribution of Retinal Photoreceptors in the South American (Lepidosiren paradoxa) and Spotted African (Protopterus dolloi) Lungfishes

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Date: 24-06-2016

DOI: 10.3389/FEVO.2016.00078

Neutralizing nature

Publisher: IEEE

Date: 28-10-2021

DOI: 10.1109/ISTAS52410.2021.9629187

Growing for different ends

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 11-2014

DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOCEL.2014.09.025

Abstract: Tissue engineering and regenerative biology are usually discussed in relation to biomedical research and applications. However, hand in hand with developments of this field in the biomedical context, other approaches and uses for non-medical ends have been explored. There is a growing interest in exploring spin off tissue engineering and regenerative biology technologies in areas such as consumer products, art and design. This paper outlines developments regarding in vitro meat and leather, actuators and bio-mechanic interfaces, speculative design and contemporary artistic practices. The authors draw on their extensive experience of using tissue engineering for non-medical ends to speculate about what lead to these applications and their possible future development and uses. Avoiding utopian and dystopian postures and using the notion of the contestable, this paper also mentions some philosophical and ethical consideration stemming from the use of non-medical approaches to tissue constructs. This article is part of a directed issue entitled: Regenerative Medicine: the challenge of translation.

Artists working with life (sciences) in contestable settings

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Date: 02-01-2018

DOI: 10.1080/03080188.2018.1418122

Crossing Kingdoms

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Date: 03-07-2020

DOI: 10.3389/FBIOE.2020.00715

University Of Western Australia

Location: Australia

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Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100423

Start Date: 01-2012

End Date: 12-2015

Amount: $375,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE220100057

Start Date: 04-2023

End Date: 04-2025

Amount: $751,723.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP210102044

Start Date: 02-2021

End Date: 01-2025

Amount: $350,173.00

Funder: Australian Research Council