Common Flowers / Flower Commons

Abstract

The Common Flowers projects is based on the first commercially available genetically modified flower, the blue "Moondust" carnation developed and marketed by a japanese beer-brewing company. But although the company applied for and was awarded the permission to grow this GM flowers in its key markets, it chooses not to. Instead the GM blue flowers are grown in Columbia, harvested, and shipped as cut-flowers to the worldwide markets. With Common Flowers we reverse the plant growing process, by growing, multiplying - technically 'cloning' - new plants from purchased cut-flowers using Plant Tissue Culture methods. The blue GM carnations can be brought back to life using DIY biotech methods involving everyday kitchen utensils and materials, which are easily purchasable from the next supermarket or drugstore. And because the plants are officially considered "not harmful”, it is not illegal to release them into the environment. Therefore we took the next logical step and brought the blue GM carnation back to their natural environment.  Photo by Z33

Awarded:
Honorary Mention Hybrid Art, Ars Electronica Festival 2009

Exhibited at:
CYBERARTS09, Ars Electronica Festival 2009, Linz, Austria
Alter Nature: We Can, Z33
TRANSARTS, 3331 Arts Chiyoda
Intimate Science, Miller Gallery at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh / Southern Exposure, San Francisco / Real Art Ways, Hartford / Williamson Gallery, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena / Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum
Ogaki Biennale Life to Life, IAMAS, Gifu, Japan
Grow Your Own, Science Gallery Dublin