Introduction

VASTAL, VivoArts School for Transgenic Aesthetics Ltd., is a temporary research and education institute of Adam Zaretsky and Waag Society. Waag Society has proudly invited Adam Zaretsky to be artist in residence over the course of 2009. During this period Zaretsky will research, give lectures and courses on Art and Life Sciences.

Life Sciences are seen as breakthrough technology. But as the research after and the use of, the genome – the code of life – for the medical, agricultural and military industries moves on, why not also genomics for art?

Hardware, software and wetware (the genetic building blocks of living organisms) are combined in new applications that raise urgent questions about aesthetics and ethics, about usefulness and necessity, about the borders between life and death, between art and science.

Courses, lectures and other activities will be presented and will contribute in the demystification of Life Sciences.

The course is for artists, designers, scientists and anyone who is curious about life.