DNAid Billboards
Alexis Rockman, Nancy Burson, and Haluk Akakce
September 5 - 30, 2000
Billboard Project
Photo © 2000 CharlieSamuels.com
In conjunction with DNAid, a series of public art projects that addressed the implications of genetic research, Creative Time presented a month long outdoor exhibition of three artist-designed billboards featuring Alexis Rockman, Nancy Burson, and Haluk Akakce.
Rockman's The Farm depicted the transformation of agriculture with the introduction of genetic engineering. Progressing from right to left, Rockman created images of species of plants and animals as they currently look, and then visualized what science projects will be the future of genetic engineering—chickens with six legs, square tomatoes, and pigs bred for organ transplants. Across the billboard was written, "How's Life on the Farm?”
Nancy Burson's photo-based work morphed a snapshot of a woman "evolving" through five different races. Burson tried to dispel the notion that race is not a genetic fact, but more of a political and social construct.
Haluk Akakce's billboard presented a digital still from his video The Measure of All Things. Reading “Are We Ready?” the still depicted a double helix spiraling from the earth to the city skyline, representing his view of the future of technology.
