Trust Me, I’m an Artist: Cellular Propeller

The series Trust Me, I’m an Artist investigates ethical issues arising from art and biological science collaboration, where artistic projects nudge up against the newly possible and often precede regulation. The series considers the roles and responsibilities of artists, scientists, and institutions involved.

The protocol is as follows: an artist proposes an ethically complex artwork to a specially formed ethics committee (following rules and procedures typical for the host country), who then debates the proposal and comes to a decision about its implementation, which is publicly discussed. transmediale will host an ethics panel regarding the Cellular Propeller project by Howard Boland of London-based C-Lab, which explores the fourth domain of synthetic biology where bio-matter is mobilized to perform novel behaviours.