Just reading Denisa Kera’s Article on “Forgotten Histories of DIYbio, Open, and Citizen Science: Science of the People, by the People, for the People?”
Download: DKera_OnDIYScience_2020.pdf (76.0 KB)
It’s part of the new book “Art as We Don’t Know It” by Bioart Society, with many many other interesting articles and artworks. Download the full book from Aalto shop
Here some exerpts from Denisa’s article that made me think…
On History
“Attempts to resolve the tension between facts and values, epistemic and normative ideals of objectivity, transparency, autonomy, freedom and participation, must acknowledge this messy history before legitimising or even institutionalising any practices or movements. We need a middle ground from where to explore the plurality of the ways in which we bring together facts and values, atoms and human agency, and science with personal and communal values.”
On DIY science
The insistence of these new movements on open-ended and collaborative research, rather than finished and well presented (art)works with strong authorship, is visible in their preference for workshops, alternative and even mobile labs, making, hacking, and open-ended DIY research. They support the educational and communicational goals of science or the aesthetic and critical explorations of art, whilst remaining open to a variety of idiosyncratic and personal projects and ideas. They raise new questions about inclusivity, knowledge and cognitive justice that are rather neglected by most bioart projects.
On Bioart
“The niche group of bioartists, artists and designers of all kinds who work and collaborate in science labs or move science into the galleries, produce very provocative and inspiring works, but they also preserve the institutional status quo and divisions. They remain elitist (not sharing the tools and spaces of production) even when they try to bring science to the people.”