Biological Art in India

Photo: Professor Emeritus Obaid Siddiqui, founder of India's National Centre for Biological Science welcomes SymbioticA's Oron Catts. Pictured right, Yashas Shetty, NCBS artist in residence.

The first Indian biological art masterclass and workshop has kicked off at the labs of NCBS today. Oron Catts went round the assorted participants and asked them what they wanted from the week. Bangalore artist Kiran Subbaiah stated that he wanted to create a clone of himself. This has not been promised immediately. Other participants include artists and a number of NCBS scientists, including Mukkund Thattai, who has been instrumental, along with artist Yashas Shetty in making the event happen. The Hindu, India's leading daily, announced the workshop this morning here. Currently all the participants are roaming NCBS's extensive campus collecting bacteria to be analysed in the well appointed lab given to us by NCBS. Oron Catts and his scientific collaborator, Greg Cozens have been very impressed by the immense support given by the Institution and are very pleased with the facilities and specimens provided - including 2 GFP mice (deceased). Participants in the workshop and master class include: Yashas Shetty, Gabriel Harp, Zackery Denfeld, Ayisha Abraham, Rustam Vania, Ravindra Gutta, US Ramesh U S, Dharmang Prajapati, Prayas Abhinav, Kiran Subbaiah, Rohini Devasher, Sylvia Nagl, Siraj Izhar, Vivek Vilasini, Ria Rajan, Avinash Deshmukh and Dhanyaa Deofavente. There is also live blogging on the CEMA website.

Rob La Frenais, Curator