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| 3-D faces created from DNA samples found in public. |
A New
York Artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg picks up things people leave in public, extracts their DNA from it and creates a 3-D face that looks like the DNA
owner. This project is called “Stranger Visions”, where portrait sculptures are
completed from the bits of genetic material that are collected in public.
Heather got the idea for this project from the appeal of a single hair; it was
then turned into a research project to discover as much as she could from
someone by an artifact they left behind.
The
process begins with finding a sample in a public place. These samples could be
a strand of hair, a chewed piece of gum, and even a cigarette butt; it has to
be something that contains cells from a person’s body. Heather then takes this sample to a community
biotechnology, called Genspace. At this lab a standard DNA extraction protocol
is used to mine the DNA, purify it, and use it in polymerase chain reactions. After
the sequencing information is obtained, the traits form the individual’s DNA
and deposits it into a computer program that generates a 3-D model of a face. This
process takes about 8 hours to print one of the faces in NYU’s Advanced Media
Studio. The print looks like a block of powder; the face is then dug out, baked,
and hardened with a superglue-like structure.
There
are limitations behind these masterpieces. These faces are not exact replicas
of the strangers DNA that has been found. Heather insists that it is more of a
family resemblance. Also, the age of the DNA’s unknown donor cannot be
determined from the DNA samples. This project was started from Dewey-Hagborg’s
own DNA self-portrait two years ago. People have had different opinions of how
the DNA is found for these portraits; some people feel that this is unethical. People
feel that you should not be able to just take some ones DNA from things just because
it is in public. They feel that their privacy is being taken advantage of. This
art project is the connection between art, technology, and science.
I found this absolutely amazing. If is extraordinary that just from a piece of gum or strand of hair someone can make a 3-D image of what you would look like. In a way I do find it to be a little creepy. It makes you think twice what you will spit out or leave behind. The persons DNA that you are using did not give you permission to use it, though it is left in a public place. I feel that this could cause a lot of controversy with people. But, in all I think this is brilliant and I would love to have it done to me, with my permission.
