Braccio

In the early embryonic stage of humans, the HOX1A gene, among others, is responsible for the forming of arms and legs. The artist had six persons examined with respect to their HOX1A gene, and used this as the point of departure for his multi-medial installation Braccio. In this work, a mini-controller reads the individual codes, and sends these signals to a motor. This sets the artificial arm with hand and pencil into motion so that a drawing comes about on the page beneath it. Depending on the genetic code, the signal changes minimally, which then alters its translation into movement and finally, the drawing. The result is six drawings, which initially appear identical, but upon looking more closely reveal minute deviations. Another variation of the drawing results is a page, upon which the various translations of the genetic code have manifested themselves in a drawing done with felt-tip pens in various colors.