Biological Agents: Artistic Engagements in our Growing Bio-Culture
Curated by Christa Donner and Andrew Yang

October 14-November 22, 2008
Opening reception: Wednesday, October 15, 5-8pm
Gallery 400, 400 S. Peoria Street, Chicago

EVL MFA graduate student, Andrew Oleksiuk has a created comic book for Biological Agents, entitled Mermaids of the Chicago River. The new work grew out of a virtual world interactive installation and the comic book and zine traditions using contemporary electronic visualization techniques. Fantasy is juxtaposed with a call to environmental activism to provide an eerie commentary on human nature. Pick up your free copy at he Knowledge Virus Research Station at the show or download under related documents at the right of this webpage.

The complexities of our contemporary life fundamentally challenge the way we understand ourselves as biological entities within larger ecosystems. Biological Agents focuses on the work of Brandon Ballangée, Caitlin Berrigan, and Natalie Jeremijenko: three artists who engage the intimate participation of organisms and the public alike, examining what it means to be human, to be animal, and to have personal and social agency. The companion Knowledge Virus Research Station offers more information on biological topics from a variety of creative perspectives.

Related Events:
Wednesday, October 22 6:00pm, Gallery 400 Lecture Room
Screening of Strange Culture by Lynn Hershman Leeson, film about Critical Art Ensemble and Steve Kurtz, and Marching Plague by Critical Art Ensemble, to be followed by discussion with Claire Pentecost, Associate Professor, SAIC.

Panel discussion, Date and Location TBA
Lori Andrews, Chicago-Kent College of Law, IIT; Hannah Higgins, UIC Associate Professor of Art History; and Andrew Yang, SAIC, exhibition co-curator and biologist. Moderated by Lennard Davis, UIC Project Biocultures and Professor of English, Disability Studies and Medical Education.

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