re-Mystified

In the re-Mystified project, different animal cell lines are to be grown together in vitro to create the majority of the chimera’s body. Shapes are formed by using tissue culturing methods of muscle cells and bone cells in addition to non-organic materials that serve as structural or ornamental features of the sculpture. Muscle cells from different animals are grown into the armature made of organic bone or non-organic materials which are then incubated until muscle cells have grown into solid tissue. The sculptures are displayed in both living and preserved states. A working bioreactor (self-sustaining and enclosed environment) consists of the biological apparatus housed in a sterile cabinet. The contained sculptures will be semi-living for approximately 2 weeks until the cell lines have completed their life cycles and transition into death. Preserved sculptures will be encased in glass and displayed in a futuristic-Victorian motif of specimen collection vitrines and cabinets of curiosity.

In mythology, chimeras appear as monstrous creatures which have body parts of different animals. The term “chimera” was the name that referred to the mythical animals that appeared in Greek art. In modern genetic research, chimeras can be developed by fusing together 2 different zygotes (pre-formation of an embryo) to create a creature of mixed cellular origins. This can also occur in the natural environment. In myth or genetics, chimeras hold inherently a powerful message embedded in symbolism of the beast or in the implications of biological diversity in science research. Based on ethical issues of actually making a non-viable being, the use of animal cells would be used rather that the fusion of embryonic organisms. The controversy of making an embryo that is not guaranteed a quality of life, no matter how short is a real issue in the laboratory. However, the approach of creating sculptures by cell line and presenting physical art representations offers a visual and an initiating point for the general viewing audience to: understand the basics of chimeras in science; the role of its symbolism in art and literature; implication of potential mutations (natural and man-made) in our dynamic environment.

In art, sculptures have not yet been created in this manner. Laboratory research is based single cell lines which fulfill specific study requirements. The studio/laboratory provided to create the pieces is specially designed for this purpose of non-traditional laboratory work. In terms of revisiting the idea of chimeras, the art studio/laboratory challenges the viability of different cell lines to grow in novel environments. What is actuated is the symbiosis of the different animal forms within a living sculpture. Via physiological monitors, the sculpture’s life or death status can be observed by the viewer.