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ZeroOne San Jose / ISEA2006 ISEA2006 symposium
Unnatural Selection PDF Print E-mail
Poster Sessions
Written by Kuniko Vroman   
Apr 23, 2006 at 10:51 PM

Elliot Anderson

alternative Energy, wind power, solar power, geothermal power, alternative energy technology, energy, fossil fuel, networks

Unnatural Selection is an umbrella for a series of projects that examine human and cultural understanding of and relationship to the natural environment. The project is a collaboration between University of California, Santa Cruz Assistant Professor of Art Elliot Anderson and Digital Arts New Media graduate students: Tyler Freeman, Adam Jerugim, James Khazar, Nichole Smith, Synthia Payne, no.e sunflowrfish, and Alan Tollefson. The designation Unnatural Selection was chosen to comment on and question human manipulation of the natural world. The work in the series reflects on current perceptions of biology, nature, and the environment from the point of view of environmental aesthetics, genetics and human desire, the sublime and genetic technologies, and the necessity of creative involvement in generating ethical and technologically less destructive interaction with the natural world.

Abstract

Modern cultural interpretations of the "environment" have been under the purview of the arts and sciences, which enframe our comprehension of nature emotionally, cognitively, and socially.  In order to formulate a critique and develop strategies for engaging with discourses of nature and the environment this project employs historical classifications and ideologies - especially 19th century theories of aesthetics - as theories for artistic practice.  The work in the series of reflects on current perceptions of biology, nature, and the environment from the point of view of environmental aesthetics, genetics and human desire, the sublime and genetic technologies, and the necessity of creative involvement in generating ethical and technologically less destructive interaction with the natural world.


Under the rubric of Unnatural Selections are a series of interventions that include Environmental Aesthetics, Manifest Landscape, The Genetics of Desire, The Transgenic Sublime, and The Art of Alternative Energy.  Environmental Aesthetics examines how aesthetic understanding and contact with nature can create knowledge of the world that can lead to a preservationist engagement.  As an extension of the concept of environmental aesthetics, Manifest Landscape seeks to invert the creed of Manifest Destiny toward creating a preservationist rather than exploitative ideology.  The Genetics of Desire examines our ability to construct the world in very literal ways at the genetic and molecular level and asks what part does human desire play in recoding nature.  Humans have always manipulated nature toward utilitarian and aesthetic goals, how will these methods and desires play out at the level of genetics?  In conjunction with The Genetics of Desire, The Transgenic Sublime seeks to analyze our emotional relationship to the technologies that reveal the microscopic world.  Finally, The Art of Alternative Energy is an effort to bring artists as creative thinkers into the discourse of alternative and non-polluting energy sources toward finding solutions that work within diverse communities.


Last Updated ( Aug 04, 2006 at 04:55 PM )
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