Event 1 Blog - Art and Immunology: A Lifelong Relationship

Marta de Menezes is a pioneer in the realm of experimental art and its intersection with science. As the founder of Cultivamos Cultura, a space hosting artists from different backgrounds interested in exploring the intersection of art and science, Menezes showcases the work of artists. The space has a range of activities in production, dissemination, research, education, and exhibition. Through collaborative projects between artists and researchers, Menezes aims to blend art and science.
I enjoyed attending Marta’s talk at UCLA Broad Arts Center. Menezes discussed her project "Anti-Marta," which involves the extraction of her immune cells and their genetic material. Menezes then created a living sculpture in a bioreactor containing her cells. She explained how the immune system is the most creative organ in the body, as it differentiates self from non-self, creates cells, and edits DNA. Menezes emphasized that knowledge can be made of many things, including spiritual, intellectual, and physical elements, and that what a piece gives to us is valuable for our own sake. This perspective stands in contrast to the often-fraught discussions about whether something is art or not. Menezes's talk on art and immunology pertains to our class, which explores how technologies such as artificial intelligence, neuroscience, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are driving new forms of art and science. Menezes's work is a testament to the creative possibilities of merging art and science. Her projects expose scientists to artworks from around the world, and her conference Femeeting, launched in 2017, is focused on disseminating projects carried out by women to increase knowledge sharing and bring communities together.
Menezes's approach to documenting art projects is also noteworthy. She launched ArcHive, an open digital platform that aggregates, preserves, publishes, distributes, and contextualizes a variety of information, knowledge, and documentation on art, with a focus on biomedia. ArcHive works and showcases projects with Cultivamos Cultura, and documentation is crucial to recording the process of what a piece was. In my own eyes, I compare the documentation ArcHive uses to the aging of wine – the aging of art is essential to showcase the lifespan and growth of a project.
Finally, Menezes discussed projects focused on identity and how they can assist in making better decisions. She emphasized that identity is not just about how one describes themselves, but rather an amalgamation of many overlapping objectives. Overall, Menezes's talk highlights the importance of exploring the intersection of art and science, and how new forms of expression that are technologically driven can offer unique perspectives and approaches to these fields – I thoroughly enjoyed learning from Marta.

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