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ADAM ZARETSKY VASTAL:
Opening 08.12.2011, 18.00
Ecology and EcoArt, Ethology and Animals in Art, Embryology and Mutagenic Art, Gastronomy and Edible Art, Tissue Culture and Disembodies Flesh Art, Bioinformatics and DNA Literary Studies and Physiology and Body Art. VASTAL, The VivoArts School for Transgenic Aesthetics Ltd. was formed in 2009 in order to make hand-on biotechnology labs more accessible to the public and to teach do-it-yourself genetic engineering of the human germline. Each lab is posited as having one goal, merely the production of living artistic projects. Engineering anatomy as an art studio practice is documented through experiments in: ecological art anomalies, culinary art extravagances, tissue culture art, subjective beings in need of art as enrichment, bioinformatics art, transgenic embryo sculpting and body-based performance art.
DIY hands-on biotechnology labs work:
Transgenic Embryology Lab, 2009 Body Alterity Lab, 2009 (De)Mystified Bioinformatics Lab, 2009 Tissue Culture Sculpture Lab, 2009 Hybrid DNA Isolation Lab, 2009 Seed Bombing Lab, 2009
Adam Zaretsky is a Wet-Lab Art Practitioner admixing Ecology, Biotechnology, Non-human Relations, Body Performance and Gastronomy. Politically, Zaretsky focuses on legal, ethical, social and libidinal implications of biotechnological materials and methods: Fecund Assisted Reproductive Technology and Transgenic Edification Architecture. Currently he is co-creating Mutate or Die with Tony Allard: a live cut-up, biolistically impinging on life through the creative misuse of a Helios gene gun loaded with DNA from the William S. Burroughs Microbiome Project (WSBMP.) He is also participating in the Waag Society's StudioLab, researching Solar Zebrafish - the research intends to produce chloroplast microinjected, genetically modified, photosynthetic plant-animal hybrids whom are then subjected to larval ethological personality studies. Zaretsky is the headmaster of VASTAL (The Vivoarts School for Transgenic Aesthetics Ltd.) and is currently completing his Ph.D. in Art Practice, Integrated Electronic Arts at Rensselaer (I/EAR), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Oleg Mavromatti - who took part in Unsealed, The VASTAL Virginarium performances - is currently residing in Bulgaria without documents. The Russian government has refused to renew his passport and so he is now a person without a nation, somewhat trapped and in dismay. We have worked together as artists and friends in Europe and the United States for over five years. This show is dedicated to raising awareness of his situation and money for his legal support. One third of any money tendered from artworks sold from the VASTAL exhibition will go to alleviate this entrapment. Mavromatti is currently prosecuted under article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for inciting religious and national animosity for a scene from a film, which he was shooting 10 years ago. The action took place at the yard of the Institute of Cultural Studies, Moscow. This scene featured a performance art piece called Do not Believe Your Eyes, by the character in the film, which involved his crucifixion. Since late nineties, particular religious circles have prosecuted artists and cultural producers under the article 282. All these people face 3 to 5 years in prison. These prosecutions reflect a particular mood against contemporary art in Russia, which results in increasing censorship and violation of the freedom of speech and expression of Russian artists. In 2010 Mavromatti was denied a renewal of his Russian passport by the Russian consulate in Bulgaria. The reason was a persecution for the same performance. If he returns to Russia, he is going to be sued under the law 282 and faces 3-5 years of jail. He is currently residing in Bulgaria without documents and needs to collect money for his legal support. This show is dedicated to keeping our artists' bodies, as our most ethical experimental canvas, out of reactive interference and cut-open to interpretation: symbolically, iconoclastically, rigorously and physio-illogically. Here is how you can donate to support Oleg Mavromatti Adam Zaretsky |
