SymbioticA Showcase

SymbioticA Showcase exhibition, Cyberarts 2007
Goodbye Privacy, Ars Electronica 2007

Produced by SymbioticA, School of Anatomy and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia
The OK Center for Contemporary Art, Linz Austria
6. September – 14. October 2007
http://www.ok-centrum.at/english/english.html
Curated by Oron Catts

In 2007 SymbioticA was awarded the inaugural Golden Nica in Hybrid Arts as a part of the Prix Ars Electronica 2007.  This is a prestigious international award of the major contemporary and experimental art festival held in Linz, Austria.  "INTERACTIVE, PLAYFUL, TECHNICALLY and ARTISTICALLY HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED - the OK presents the CyberArts 2007, an exhibition within the Ars Electronica. (OK Press release)
Emerging from the Prix Ars Electronica, the international competition of computer art, the displayed works set a standard and represent the best of digital art from all over the world. In addition to the prize-winning projects of the Interactive and the Hybrid Art category, exhibits also include works from the categories Digital Musics and Digital Communities."(http://www.ok-centrum.at/english/english.html )
As the winners of the inaugural Hybrid Arts Golden Nica SymbioticA's director Oron Catts was asked to curate a showcase exhibition to highlight the work developed in SymbioticA. The five works chosen represent the diversity of practices in SymbioticA ranging from molecular biology, mycology, tissue culture, entomology, and  biological materials gleaned from animals.  Besides the different media used, the works also express a wide scope of concerns stemming from the use of living systems/materials for human-centric ends.
Paul Vanouse (USA) – Latent Figure Protocol
Boo Chapple  (AUS)– Rat Tails
Nigel Helyer (UK/AUS) – Host
Tissue Culture and Art Project (AUS) – Worry Doll G
Donna Franklin (AUS) – Fibre Reactive

SymbioticA was responsible for the production, fundraising, installation, negotiation with selected artists.  Funding for the showcase was received from the Visual Arts and Craft Board of the Australia Council through the auspices of the OK Center for Contemporary Arts. 

Boo Chapple

Tissue Culture and Art Project

Nigel Helyer