About project
Europe, as a shared natural environment, is facing significant environmental challenges. The territory of the former Yugoslavia, being one of the areas particularly exposed to pollution, becomes a focal point for positive change to which the project aims to contribute. In collaboration with partners from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Croatia the project seeks to explore environmental protection issues by engaging a broader professional, artistic, and activist community. Advocating for sustainable development through participatory bio art installations, Bio Awaking aims to raise awareness of the role art can play in sustainability processes.
The specific objectives of the project include developing a network of bio artists across Europe, strengthening the capacities of European artists in utilizing biomaterials, and creating bio art installations using environmental samples. Additionally, the project will focus on involving decision-makers in all phases of the process, fostering an audience for bio art that supports environmental conservation, and nurturing cultural, artistic, and educational collaboration in addressing environmental challenges in Europe and the Balkans.
Bio Art Forum Program
May 16 – 18, 2024
SKUP, Creative District, Novi Sad, Serbia
Bulevar despota Stefana 6b.
Click here to register
Day I
Thursday, 16.5.
9.30 – 10.00
Gathering and introduction
Adrienn Újházi and Bojan Kenig
10.00 – 10.50
Talk
Hybrid Art and the Democratization of Science
Prof. Polona Tratnik Ph.D. (Sl)
Biotechnological artists who have responded to the advancements in biotechnology in “the biotech century” have entered laboratories and started using them as their studios, or established their laboratories as art studios. Art has converged with biotechnology. This has affected the shape of art projects, artistic methodologies, and epistemologies, as well as artistic tools and materials. Nevertheless, not only has art approached biotechnology and the institution of art has changed, but the formation of science has also gone through a profound transformation which has opened up possibilities for science to collaborate with art. Has art become biotechnology, or worse still, its mere promotor? What is the function of art addressing biotechnology?
Polona Tratnik, PhD in philosophy, is a full professor at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana and senior researcher at the Institute IRRIS.
10.50 – 11.50
Inspirational Panel Session
Living Art
Margherita Pevere (DE); Dorotea Dolinšek (SI); Robertina Šebjanič (SI);
Moderator: Sonja Jankov (RS).
Living materials, systems, and processes create art that constantly transforms, blurring the line between creation and decay. Artists, researchers, and institutions are in a collaborative exploration to develop innovative solutions for nurturing and sharing bio art’s perspectives. We will explore the unique challenges and beauty of creating these artworks, redefine how we interact with them, and pave the way for the future of this captivating art form.
12.15 – 13.00
Talk
TBA
Jurij Krpan (Sl)
Jurij is an artistic director and chief curator of Kapelica Gallery, Kersnikova Institute, Slovenia. Initiator for establishing BioTehna, Vivarium, and Rampa at Kersnikova Institute. International lecturer and juror at Prix Ars Electronica, Linz for the Hybrid Arts category for 5 years.
13.00 – 14.00
Inspirational Panel Session
Keeping Art Alive
Olga Majcen Linn (HR); Stevan Kojić (RS); Dalila Honorato (GR)
Moderator: Petar Laušević (RS), Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN)
This session tackles the unique challenges of curating bio art – keeping it alive while ensuring its message endures. Artists, researchers, and curators dissect the challenges of keeping these living artworks vibrant and sharing their perspectives on creating conditions for them to thrive. Join the discussion and discover how institutions can nurture collaboration, education, and the future of bio art, ensuring accessibility for future audiences.
15.00 – 16.00
Interactive Talk Session
New Reproductive Technology and the Human Germline Commons
Dr. Adam Zaretsky (USA)
The interactive session will show wet lab bio art workshops for non-biologists, delving into transgenic human co-creation, germline aesthetics, and reproductive technology. These labs merge biology with creative arts, addressing legal, ethical, and social implications. They aim for mutant baby production as bio art, integrating time-based sculptural practices. The workshops explore novel archiving technologies like Cryogenic Storage and Human Colonies. Join us in redefining boundaries between art, science, and humanity.
Adam Zaretsky Ph.D. is a Wet-Lab Art Practitioner mixing Ecology, Biotechnology, Non-human Relations, Body Performance, and Gastronomy. Zaretsky stages lively, hands-on bioart production labs. His art practice focuses on an array of legal, ethical, social and libidinal implications of biotechnological materials and methods focusing on transgenic humans. Principal at VASTAL (Vivoarts School for Transgenic Aesthetics Limited), Researcher at NADL Inc., Chief Executive Officer at psyFert (the psychic fertility clinic), Founder of BEAK (The Bioart Ethical Advisory Kommission), and proud member of the World Congress on New Reproductive Technology Arts (WCoNRTA) of thGAP.
Day II
Friday, 17.5.
9.30 – 10.00
Gathering and introduction
Jovana Jankov
10.00 – 10.50
Talk
DIYBio is dead, long live DIYBio
Roland van Dierendonck (NL/UK)
Do-It-Yourself Biology was a dream. It promised accessible, affordable, shared lab spaces with open-source tools and protocols, enabling everyone to learn and do biology, democratizing the life sciences. What is the state of DIYBio and did it deliver on its promises? Bio art and its ways of operating are living on in art school laboratories.
Roland van Dierendonck is an artist and researcher. He investigates new ways to relate to, experience, and understand microorganisms in his practice. He is a PhD candidate at Lab4Living, Sheffield Hallam University, using touch and time to connect with microbial presence and movement. Next to his PhD, he works as a senior researcher in Responsible Applied AI at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, bridging AI and ethics.
10.50 – 11.50
Inspirational Panel Session
Art for Change
Maya Minder (CH), Ewen Chardronnet (FR)
Moderator: Kristijan Tkalec (Sl), Kersnikova Institute
This session dives into the world of DIY, biohacking, and DIWO approaches to bio art. Discover how artists are pushing boundaries with affordable tools and open-source knowledge. We will tackle how biohacking empowers individuals to explore the potential of biology in artistic creation and becomes a catalyst for social change. Explore the potential of community bio labs and learn how DIWO fosters collaboration and community engagement in bio art projects.
12.00 – 15.00
Practice-based session I
Transformative relations – intertidal moment
Facilitators of research module I: Gjino Šutić & Filip Grgurević (HR), UR Institute
Facilitator of research module II: Sunčica Pasuljević Kandić (RS)
Conceptual framework and moderation: Sunčica Pasuljević Kandić
Transformative Relations is a 2-day event of practice-based sessions (intertidal moment & zone) where participants engage in an experiential walking exploration of relations between humans & non-humans through the case study of the Danube environment. Embodied data and biological samples from the Danube environment will be gathered through 2 research modules: DIY biotechnological sampling and embodied ethnographic sampling. Bio artists, researchers, and antidisciplinary practitioners will guide participants through hands-on sessions, equipping them with new insights and methods. Fostering an approach of hybrid methodologies Transformative Relations promotes collaboration across disciplines and species.
Find out more about the event here.
19.00 – 20.00
Film Projection
K-9_topology: Through the Lens of a Long-Term Care of an Artwork
Video essay by Maja Smrekar, 2022, 54′
A video essay presents the ‘K- 9_topology’ series by Maja Smrekar and offers an insight into approaches to the development, production, and exhibition of artworks that include living organisms and biomaterials, along with the challenges that artists and other professionals face when re-installing and archiving such works. The documentary is accompanied by the opinions of the following curators and theorists: Jens Hauser, Ida Hiršenfelder, Martin Honzik, Lucie Strecker, Jessica Ullrich, Jurij Krpan, and Eva Smrekar.
Day III
Saturday, 18.5.
10.00 – 10.30
Gathering and introduction
Bojan Kenig
10.30 – 11.20
Talk
Biomediality and Microperformativity: A Genealogy of a Contemporary Paragone
Jens Hauser (FR/DK)
Jens Hauser is a Paris-based media studies scholar, writer, and art curator focusing on the interactions between art and technology. He is currently a researcher and has been a Professor in Art History at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) since 2022. He is also a researcher at the University of Copenhagen’s Medical Museion and a distinguished faculty member of the Department of Art, Art History and Design at Michigan State University, where he co-directs the BRIDGE artist in the residency program.
11.20 – 13.20
Practice-based session II
Transformative relations – intertidal zone
Moderator: Jelena Joksimović (RS), with the help of the facilitators.
Equipped with various samples and impressions from the outdoor exploration of the previous day, the participants will engage in its collective transformation. While exploring the Danube environment, they had the opportunity to delve deeper into the relationship between humans, other organisms, and the ecosystem, grounding in the presence of ecological entanglement. Drawing from that acquired knowledge they will be guided to convey a collective message, action-thought answer. During this practice-based session, participants from two research modules will be mixed to exchange and transform their samples. The goal is to enable multiple points of view, experiences, and knowledge to cross-pollinate to position the current flow of transformative relations collectively and where we seek to take us.
13.45 – 14.30
Talk
Art and Immunology: A lifelong love affair
Marta de Menezes (PT)
The work of de Menezes explores the possibilities modern biology offers to artists. In the lecture a special emphasis will be given to the development of collaborative projects between the artist and the different fields within biology she has worked with to question how our genetic composition is (di)similar to various other organisms, as well as the concept of self and non-self in immunology which challenge our conception of identity. Marta has been developing strategies not only to portray the recent advances of biological sciences, but also to incorporate biological material as a way to convey an artistic discourse not possible with a different medium: DNA, proteins, and cells offer an opportunity to explore novel ways of representation and communication. More importantly, they allow for a very necessary re-problematization of concepts and issues that we have been working on and thinking about since the beginning.
Marta is a Portuguese artist, with a Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Lisbon and a MSt from the University of Oxford. De Menezes is the director of Cultivamos Cultura, the leading institution devoted to experimental art in Portugal and Ectopia, dedicated to facilitating the collaborative work between artists and scientists.
14.30 – 15.30
Closing Session
Cultivating the Future
Moderators: Milica Rašković (RS), DESK Creative Europe and Dobrivoje Lale Erić (RS), Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN)
The Bio Art Forum concludes with a forward-looking discussion. Having explored the world of living art, participants – artists, researchers, and curators – will come together to cultivate the future of the field. Expect dialogue on bridging the gap between artistic vision and bio art’s unique needs. Can DIY and collaborative approaches democratize bio art creation? How can art catalyze environmental awareness and social change?
Activities
The main activities of the project include the Bio Art Forum, two "do-it-yourself" online bio-art workshops, two study visits to Slovenia and Croatia, a mobile laboratory scientific-artistic program, and two bio-art exhibitions at festivals in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Bio Art Forum (May 16-18, 2024) in Novi Sad aims to stimulate dialogue on the challenges and perspectives of bio-art, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative application of biotechnologies through expert discussions, interactive workshops, and discussions during three conference days.
Two "do-it-yourself" online bio-art workshops (May 2024 and January 2025) offer participants practical experience in non-institutional science led by the Universal Research Institute team. The workshops aim to inspire participants to create their home laboratories, promoting a culture of knowledge creation and developing environmentally responsible skills across partner countries.
The Bio Awaking project will organize study visits (June 2024 and March 2025) to the Kersnikova Institute in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and the Universal Research Institute in Dubrovnik, Croatia, offering participants an impressive experience in bio-art and sustainability, focusing on processes related to the analysis, cultivation, and use of biomaterials used in artistic projects and installations. Participants can apply for study visits through an open call, with priority given to candidates engaged in ecological sustainability and biomaterials.
The Mobile Laboratory (September 2024 and June 2025) workshops will provide participants with the opportunity to engage in contemporary artistic practices involving biomaterials and living organisms. Led by experienced biotechnologists and scientists, the workshops will provide practical experience in working with biomedias, offering insight into laboratory protocols, while uncovering the interesting and practical side of science.
Exhibitions at festivals represent one of the key points of the Bio Awaking project. Bio-art pieces, created within the framework of the project, will be showcased at the Kaleidoscope Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia, in the revitalized industrial quarter during September 2024, and at the Pecka Outdoor Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina in July 2025. The main focus of this activity will be outdoor workshops on nature, complemented by various cultural events, to attract a wider audience. By presenting significant biological artworks and demonstrating their impact on the environment, additional engagement of the audience and the broader public will be pursued, aiming to raise awareness of the mutual influence that art and the environment have on each other.
The "One Tree(s)" initiative (September 2025), planned as the final step of the project, symbolizes ecological awakening by planting cloned seeds of endangered species from the Western Balkans in all countries involved in the project. This act lays the groundwork for future exchange programs and joint engagement in nature conservation and environmental protection.
Developing Bio Art Practice in the Western Balkans
In the Western Balkans, this problem is particularly apparent. Over the past two decades, the region has grappled with a disparity between increasing pollution levels and the need for improved environmental management. Despite boasting rich biodiversity, the Western Balkans experience widespread habitat destruction, groundwater contamination, soil erosion, and air pollution due to industrial activities and inadequate waste management practices. Poor environmental practices underscore the need for concerted action to mitigate ecological degradation and promote sustainable development.
The Bio Awaking project emerges in a rapidly evolving global landscape where traditional notions of progress, driven by the development of science and technology, falter in the face of ecological crises. As climate change intensifies and biodiversity diminishes, it becomes evident that a paradigm shift is necessary - one that utilizes interdisciplinary collaboration and critical thinking to reconsider the role of science and technology in safeguarding the future of our planet.
The Bio Awaking project addresses these challenges through the dynamic fusion of art, science, and public engagement. Harnessing the transformative potential of bio-art, the project aims to stimulate dialogue and action around urgent environmental issues, empowering communities to advocate for change. Drawing inspiration from initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus, Bio Awaking seeks to catalyze a cultural shift towards environmental sustainability, positioning art and the humanities as drivers of social transformation.
One of the project's primary objectives is the democratization of bio-art practices, making them accessible to local organizations and fostering collaboration between artists and scientific researchers. Bio Awaking seeks to promote innovation in cultural and creative sectors through international exchange and capacity-building initiatives. By establishing long-term residency programs and advocating for the establishment of bio art laboratories in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the project also aims to create a sustainable ecosystem of artistic innovation through environmental protection.
Partners
The Citizens' Association "Reactor" unites cultural managers and artists engaging with contemporary social issues using artistic and experimental practices. The current focus of "Reactor" is on collaborating with various artists exploring new forms of artistic expression, especially in biological and ethical practices. In 2022, they realized the Biofabrika project, supported by the European Capital of Culture - Novi Sad 2022, which promoted bio-art through experimenting with SCOBY biodegradable material (a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). The main purpose of this material is to offer alternative solutions for environmental preservation, such as replacing plastic as the planet's biggest pollutant, but its significant potential in textile replacement has also been discovered.
The Kersnikova Institute is a cultural and educational organization and a production platform for artists and projects intersecting at the nexus of art, science, and technology. Alongside developing and exhibiting artworks in the Kapelica Gallery, the organization has an extensive program of educational activities, partly supported by a network of wet and mechatronic laboratories. With decades of experience collaborating with artists on new projects involving living systems, biotechnologies, and a recent focus on artificial intelligence, as well as new peer-to-peer, do-it-yourself, open-source, and hands-on learning approaches within educational activities, the platform has expanded through collaboration with experts, institutions, and the business sector, all integrated into the Institute's creative processes.
The Universal Research Institute (UR Institute), a Croatian non-governmental think tank organization, pioneers interdisciplinary applied scientific research and projects, advocating for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) in sustainable development. UR Institute is dedicated to fostering social and cultural progress, with a special focus on research, innovation, STEAM education, cultural production, and cross-sectoral cooperation. Research areas encompass biotechnology, environmental engineering, cybernetics, experimental electronics, bioelectronics/biorobotics, and art-science connections, emphasizing participatory research and socially beneficial innovations. UR Institute champions DIY and DIWO culture, knowledge freedom, and scientific inquiry.
The Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN), a public institution from Belgrade, Serbia, was established in 2010 to promote and communicate science, technology, and innovation. CPN collaborates with research and educational institutions at all levels in Serbia and worldwide. It closely cooperates with relevant ministries, media, the private sector, and civil society. CPN's goal is to influence and adapt the general research agenda to reflect society's needs. Methodologies of citizen science research and co-creation, artistic and scientific collaboration, and various educational programs rooted in the STEAM concept are instrumental and leading approaches in CPN's work.
Greenways, a nonprofit association from Bosnia and Herzegovina, initiates social, economic, and ecological innovations aimed at sustainable development. The association's vision is to empower the community to lead prosperous lives while preserving the existing ecosystem. Greenways nurtures community dedication and value-based initiatives, drawing on diverse expertise in agribusiness, policy development, environmental advocacy, and fundraising. With extensive experience in managing international projects, including EU IPA Cross-border and Erasmus+, we strive for impactful, well-managed interventions that create economic, ecological, and social value.
Support
The Creative Europe program of the European Union supports activities that promote cultural diversity and respond to the needs and challenges of the cultural and creative sectors. The main objectives of the program are to safeguard the competitiveness and economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors, particularly the audiovisual sector. The program's new approach will contribute to the recovery of these sectors by supporting their efforts to become more inclusive, digitalized, and sustainable in their environment.
The project is co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union under grant agreement No. 10112849. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the funding body can be held responsible for them.
