Naan Rijks (visual artist and biologist) is focussing on metamorphosis that are connected with transformations in the living parts of plants. She searches for images of the transitions of photosynthetic to anaërobic metabolism. As a biologist she researched the influence of insect eggs on plant cells (gall production). A contribution to kloone4000 could be the non-anthropocentric part of cloning.
Should
our resistance to cloning be suggested by our fancied individuality, our
not-existing self? Concerning human cloning: an ideal image is only defined
in relation to the situation at a specific moment. In a future cloned
society it is perhaps of more importance (and we like it better) to live
with voluptuous lungs, when we have to compete with each other for fresh
air or oxigen.
Should it be possible for human beings to develop a generation-change
in which persons with normal (oxigen) respiration alternate with persons
with a kind of anaërobe metabolism? This in order to use the surroundings
in a better way, and to have a greater chance to survive? Alternating
of generations is an existing construction in the vegetable/ animal kingdom.
Connected is the following: environmental factors influence genetic expression. In a field of plants or trees, which are vegatative multiplicated, the individuals at the edge behave different compared to the inner ones.
We
usually don’t regard plants or trees as individuals, but as a group
of plants they are a micro-habitat, in which new life can start.
Is there parallel for human beings? Can a man live because of an other
human being, in stead of at the expense of the other?
Naan
Rijks was present off and on during the entire project as guest artist
.
