Curator, Robert Cooks says: “For two decades Oron Catts, Ionat Zurr (and their various teams) have been operating in the most innovative spaces in the biological arts. They do not simply make aesthetic objects out of scientific activities but use their status as artists to become highly knowledgeable investigators and experimenters. In the process, they offer critical and confronting perspectives of how scientific ‘advances’ are rapidly changing what life and culture might be."

The exhibition will be presented in the form of a high-end retail installation. In this, specimens from the Western Australian Museum will sit alongside live aquatic animals. These creatures have been selected by Catts and Zurr in close dialogue with Museum curators to represent instances where nature does not obey human cultural norms – nature's Frankensteins. As the display set up implies, it will also offer a critique of the ways that humans commodify nature for our own ends. 

There are a number of special events planned, including a lecture series and guided tours, as well as an artist talk where you can hear from Ionat Zurr and Oron Catts about their Biomess project at 11am, Saturday 8 September. Visit the website for details.

Image credit - Oron Catts & Ionat Zurr
Sponge – Biomess 2018 (detail)
The Tissue Culture & Art Project
Collection, Western Australian Museum

Website: http://www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/exhibitions/wa-now-symbiotica.asp

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