The Body Research Machine
Daniel García Andújar: The Body Research Machine, 1997,
Multimedia-Projekt (Screenshot)
Installation
Coproduction: Hartware MedienKunstVerein
Courtesy: Technologies To The People
Since 2000, a modified version has been part of the permanent collection of the Deutschen Arbeitsschutzausstellung, Dortmund
Shortcuts. Anschlüsse an den Körper, 1997
“‘THE BODY RESEARCH MACHINE©’ uses innovative technologies based on advanced biometrics in order to record complex data related to the human body. The machine transmits through the body ultrasound waves which are then split up into phase data. While doing so, the machine scans every section of the body for interesting information, transferring all input signals to a special computer database.
Specially developed by TECHNOLOGIES TO THE PEOPLE©, the database system imitates the structure of various atom models and is able to reconstruct, atom for atom, individual amino-acid structures. These data and other information are stored in our central database. The collected data can ultimately be compared with the DNA strings saved in a GenBank.
TECHNOLOGIES TO THE PEOPLE© supports the ‘Model Ethical Protocol for Collecting DNA Samples’. We will permit neither the patenting of our DNA strings nor the sale of genetic material. In contrast, we guarantee individual control over personal information. Once the ‘Human Genome Project’ has fulfilled the mission of transcribing the code which controls the creation and development of human life, it will place this code on the market and thus make it generally available. That is what we hope. After the DNS chains of the human being are wholly decrypted and interpreted, we will be in a position to use the findings for our own purposes. We will re-invent our own selves and alter the course of evolution.”
Daniel García Andújar
Daniel García Andújar: The Body Research Machine, 1997,
Multimedia-Projekt (Screenshot)
Daniel García Andújar: The Body Research Machine, 1997,
Installationsansicht (Photo: Sascha Dressler)