or-nam-ism
n., plural: ornamisms
derived from ‘ornamental organism’
An individual form of life, such as a plant, animal, bacterium, protist, or fungus enhanced by biotechnology for aesthetic or conceptual purposes.

‘The ornamism project’ functions not only as an informative platform for ornamental organisms, but also to the entire world of art that explores the boundaries of the natural world for aesthetic or conceptual goals. Bioart, transgenic art, environmental art; art that is conceived on the borders of what we traditionally accept as nature.

‘The ornamism project’ is founded by the contemporary photographer Adrian Woods who uses the photographic medium as a gateway to explore the juxtaposition between the natural and the artificial. In the case of ‘the ornamism project’ he uses still life photography as an introduction to the critical and sometimes unreachable world of bioart.

The ornamism project consists of:
A promotional campaign throughout the Netherlands, consisting of flyers and other merchandise, arousing peoples interest in the subject.
A website, where people can explore the subject and all the latest developments. It also functions as a platform where people can express their opinions and discuss these developments.
A book combining photography with quotes from famous philosophers, artists and scientist. The book shows in an abstract way the ethical imbalance of biotechnology, how people perceive bioart as the unethical use of these technologies. Manipulation of life is only justifiable when the end result is noble, but who decides what is noble?

Links:
De Waag Society – VASTAL
The arts and genomics centre
Next Nature
Centre for society and genomics
Eduardo Kac
SymbioticA
The Tissue Culture and Art Project
ART|SCI
Design interactions at the RCA
Futurefarmers
Verbeke Foundation
Center for PostNatural History

Webdesign:
Design by Adrian Woods
Template by Laurens Profittlich & James Clark