Bioart : définition(s) et enjeux éthiques. Essai introductif

Abstract

The aim of this introductory paper is twofold.

First, we seek to illustrate which are the difficulties into

which one runs when one attempts to give a precise definition

of what bioart is. Our hypothesis is that every attempt

at such definition runs into a paradox. Indeed, if on

the one hand, every definition seems inevitably reductionist,

unjustly omitting one or more elements, on the other

hand, defining and constraining the study area is a necessary

preliminary step to understand the artistic phenomenon

known as bioart. In the second part of our paper, attention

will be focused on the ethical issues that bioart

confront us with. These issues are all the more relevant,

given the fact that bioartists often make use of biotechnologies

to manipulate living organisms for artistic purposes.