The Cactus Project is a collaborative bio-art project resulting in cactus expressing human hair. it entails the transfer of genetic material from one specie to another, in this case, the insertion of keratin genes into the cactus genome.
C-LAB is an arts collective and a small organisation that engages with critical and contemporary amalgamations of art and science. Headed up by London-based artists, Howard Boland and Laura Cinti, it focuses on artistic explorations of meaning and idiosyncrasies involving life both organic and synthetic
Now The cactus project began in 2001.The challenge was having the keratin gene expressed in cactus cells morphologically similar to hair and for the cactus to produce it externally.
At the beginning the project was experimenting with and producing transgenic plants. However, the choice of working with cactus came down to their fleshy construct, sometimes seeming monolithic and at the same time innocent - protected by growing spines. Hair, on the other hand, is a reproductive sign meaning it's a signal of the human body changing, becoming sexual. The transformation process produced a fascinating semantic orgy, turning genetic engineering inside-out, whose asexual sterile process had been reversed by the transgenic cactus remaining sexual
Now The reactions of the public vary some found the project immoral, provoking, and ethically provoking.However some found it a challenging and exciting dealing with complex issues around biotechnology in an unprecedented manner. Laura Cinti the one responsible of this project have had supportive feedback in continuing work with bio art and related issues.As well as the project has received numerous requests to obtain cuttings, seedlings and seeds of the transgenic cactus and immense interest in its flowering and fertility potential
During exhibitions it was stated by Laura Cinti that the responses were also very varied with some walking pass without even noticing the work whilst others were paralytically captivated upon discovering it. It was brilliant to actually observe the reactions relating it to how these cultural issues concern us. She generally finds that scientists and cacti-specialists are more intrigued with these kinds of projects than most artists. Also in the manner of the theoretical, semantical, critical issues and openings this kind of project generates.
The experiment involving this human hair growing cactus addresses the possibility of such modification being possible but also the philosophical issues of what is human and what belongs to the realm of flora and where the border between these two lies.
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