Week 6: BioTech & Art

This week's material discusses the intersection between biotechnology and art, primarily the use of health technology, the human body, animals, tissue cultures, and other scientific experimental items in art. One of the artists discussed in the lecture material was Orlan, who was a French artist who became widely known for her series of surgical operations as a form of art expression. 



In total, she underwent 9 different surgeries as a part of her art. She coined the term carnal art, or self-portraiture in the classical sense but made by means of today's technology. The disfiguration and then reconfiguration of the human body using surgery and medical technology showcases biotechnology as a form of self expression.




Learning about Orlan makes me wonder how her art has blossomed more into a reality in today's society, although maybe not as exaggerated. Plastic surgery has become increasingly more and more normalized, and it made me wonder the purpose of Orlan's work. Primarily, I would be most curious to know if Orlan's work was designed to be almost a warning to society on the use of plastic surgery. Orlan carnal art installation provoked visceral reactions from the public, but after much more thought, I am beginning to wonder if such a reaction is intentional, almost to make commentary about modern beauty standards,  the idea of plastic surgery to enhance beauty, and other artificial cosmetic procedures. 


Works Cited

Bright, Richard. “The Future of the Body with Performance Artist ORLAN.” Interalia Magazine, https://www.interaliamag.org/blog/the-future-of-the-body-with-performance-artist-orlan/. Accessed 10 May 2024.

“CARNAL ART MANIFESTO.” Slow Words, 26 October 2017, https://www.slow-words.com/carnal-art-manifesto/. Accessed 10 May 2024.

O'Bryan, Jill. “Carnal Art — University of Minnesota Press.” University of Minnesota Press, https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/carnal-art. Accessed 10 May 2024.

Oriach, Stéphan. “Carnal Art.” Mubi, https://mubi.com/en/us/films/orlan-carnal-art. Accessed 10 May 2024.

“ORLAN.” Annenberg Space for Photography, https://www.annenbergphotospace.org/person/orlan/. Accessed 10 May 2024.

“ORLAN Paintings, Bio, Ideas | TheArtStory.” The Art Story, 6 December 2022, https://www.theartstory.org/artist/orlan/. Accessed 10 May 2024.

“ORLAN: The Body is Political – Louisiana Channel.” Louisiana Channel, 15 December 2022, https://channel.louisiana.dk/video/orlan-the-body-is-political. Accessed 10 May 2024.

Vesna, Victoria. “BioArt pt1.” BioTech + Art.17 May 2012. Lecture.

Vesna, Victoria. “BioArt pt4.” BioTech + Art.17 May 2012. Lecture.


Comments

  1. Abygayle WilliamsMay 12, 2024 at 9:06 PM

    Hi Helena! I agree that her art seems to serve as a provocative commentary on modern beauty standards! Society's reliance on plastic surgery has become a concerning issue and Orlan's work almost does present as a warning signal for those abusing cosmetic surgeries. I also find it interesting how her surgeries are seen as an artform!

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  2. nate hoffmanMay 19, 2024 at 12:04 PM

    Hi Helena, great write up! Orlan is a very interesting icon and a great example of utilizing art as a form of expression. I like how you connected this figure with today's society. Although it may not be as extreme, I believe much of society does put on a face. I interpret Orlan's surgeries and procedures to be a critical voice against those who are not their true selves. She embraces identity and that we should all accept ours.

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