Robertina Šebjanič et Gjino Šutić

underwater interception of *Biotweaking in **Aquatocene

aqua_forensic is a research-based project that combines art with high end science and citizen science to collect and process information of invisible anthropogenic pollutants found in the waters of localities in the coastal region of the Adriatic sea. These invisible chemical pollutants (heavy metals, oils, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, antidepressants, etc.), residues of human consumptions, are discharged as well in other aquatic environments of both fresh and salty waters. The artwork intends to make visible the varieties of these invisible anthropogenic pollutants and the patterns of their effects in the marine habitats through a DIY prototype for a field friendly marine molecular probe. There is also a question and twist in the story: could the ocean supply us with new therapeutics? Marine biotechnological research gives hopes, it can yield useful molecules that can serve as new drugs or help look for new forms of drugs that could be used to fight antibiotic resistance.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20th TO FRIDAY 23rd

only accessible to students from the Art School of Bourges
▶ WORKSHOP – aqua_forensic, qua_forensic, Robertina Šebjanič & Gjino Šutić

*Biotweaking – “act of improving biological organisms on any level, by available means, to exhibit and use to their full potential”, concept coined by Gjino Šutić to fully define his philosophy and work. Biotweaking mostly relies on DIY biotechnology – biohacking for achieving desired goals.

**Aquatocene – is a series of research-based artworks initiated by Robertina Šebjanič that deals with cultural, (bio)political and

biological realities of aquatic environments and its consequences / challenges.