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IncuBra - Couture for the Bio-technological era. a collaborative project between Adam Fiannaca & Cynthia Verspaget |
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IncuBra aims to be dialogue artifice for issues surrounding the advancement of biotechnology and its relationship to cellular life which is grown outside of the body –in-vitro (in glass), and the explorations of sexuality, “womanhood” and fertility which are in-vivo (in body) experiences, joined through the allegory of fashion. IncuBra will be executed in the form of a Biotech garment – a bra or bustier “bursting” with technology, biology and cleavage. It can ideally be displayed as historical fashion garment, or can be worn and creatively exposed as a performance based, act. These acts are suited to be located at gallery openings, dinner events and social events where social hierarchies and social butterflies may, or may not, reside. The project IncuBra is ideally situated for development in association to discourses surrounding biotech, bioethics, bioart, feminism and wearable portable technologies. IncuBra will be an haute couture brassiere, or corset, which will be capable of sustaining a vial of living material within a cleavage nook. Technological elements include a temperature controlled “bio centre” (through body heat from the cleavage), supported and monitored via fashionable and functional electronic features; beaded embellishments and perhaps even a fashionable well supply of pretty pink Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium with glucose, L-glutamine, and Penicillin-Streptomycin held together with hand embroidered trimmings. The combined living fat cells of Artists Nina Sellars and Stelarc will be “kept” in the vial for their growth and nurturing. These fat cells are “remnants” (a biotechnological term) of a liposuction event, which the artists Nina Sellars and Stelarc have undertaken for their own project called “Blender”, in August of 2004, and are gifted to this project for inclusion as the object of un/desire. Couture and electronic accessories unite with wealth. They are a recognised commodity for middle to upper class socio-economic groups (much like niche market cosmetic surgery). Couture is also commercially located. It has historically inspired mass marketed department store clothing which verges on the ultimate kitsch seasonal must haves (much the like burgeoning economically accessible cosmetic surgery trade for those with 'disposable income').
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IncuBra project is supported by ArtsWA VISIT THE INCUBRA BLOG FOR UPDATES ON THE PROJECT MEDIA FAQ
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Biotechnology is filtering into our lives as a way of controlling, defining and exploring the boundaries of mortality, immortality, human and not human via reproductive technologies, cosmetic enhancements to the scientifically “helpful” cancerous cell lines, which are the epitome of medical immortality. All of these areas are seen as either tools or achievements in biotechnological history. As biotechnology becomes a commodity (coining of recent terms such as “bio-economy” and “bio-commerce”) much like fashion it is increasingly becoming available to a particular income bracket and social status group who can afford its benefits both financially and socially. Unattended Healthcare systems, increasing bio-pandemics “bio-terrorism” and the fear surrounding these areas are all set up to separate socio-economical groups into those who can be helped and those who will be helped – What not to wear and Extreme Makeover IncuBra is the must have high fashion, biotechnologically conscious or biotech-greedy accessory. It will be able to be realistically worn and “displayed” on body while incubating cellular growth in-vitro (in glass) – in cleavage. The project also situates itself confidently in contemporary feminist theory with reference to women in science and women as objects of science. The maternal instincts of women in laboratories, care taking living things, reproductive perceptions and pre-conceptions of gender, and women as biological objects for the medical gaze will be called into question, challenged, undermined and maybe even authenticated! __
IncuBra project is supported by ArtsWA VISIT THE INCUBRA BLOG FOR UPDATES ON THE PROJECT
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