EXHIBITION
The Designer Bodies exhibition opened a pathway to the future of genetics through artworks by four outstanding Scottish artists. Christine Borland, Gina Czarnecki, Jacqueline Donachie and Gair Dunlop are recipients of sci-art Wellcome Trust, Alt-W and Creative Scotland Awards for the works included in Designer Bodies, many of which had never been shown in Scotland before. Based on unorthodox applications of new scientific discoveries and advances, the works featured in Designer Bodies employed photography, text, artists books, cultured tumour cells, DNA profiles, video microscopes, screen-based installations and interactivity.

These were works, which sparked excitement, fear and awe in equal measure and created an exploratory, almost game-like environment. The artists examined the implications of genetic prenatal screening and the construction of medical knowledge – HeLa (2001) and Home Testing (2004) by Christine Borland; the possible genetic intervention in human biodiversity and disease treatment in DM (2002-4) by Jacqueline Donachie; social perceptions, medical ethics and the historical moment of discovery of the DNA structure – Century 21 Calling… (2003-4) by Gair Dunlop; genetic discrimination and the privacy of genetic information – Silvers Alter (2003) by Gina Czarnecki.

Explore the links on this site for further information, including visual and audio highlights from the exhibiting artists and their works.

 

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