Animal Pharm

Animal Pharm investigates the emergence of biological hybrids in biotechnologies, and our human personal, moral, aesthetic and sociocultural responses to them. The main objective of our collaboration is to show the possibilities offered by the intersection of science with design and architecture as a way to explore and envision possible bio-futures.

Speculating on the emergence of biological hybrids in biotechnologies, we explored a curious landscape with cows and sheep’s grazing, chicken in a coop, and pigs in a sty. Everything seems familiar; however, this is no ordinary farm. This farm of the near future is actually a “pharm.”

Today much of the cutting-edge research in animal husbandry is occurring in the new field of “pharming” . Researchers are transforming herds and flocks into bio-factories in order to produce pharmaceutical products, humanised organs, medicines, and nutrients within the animal’s milk and blood. Transgenic animals are able to pass on new genes to their offspring, thereby producing future generations of modified animals.

With Animal Pharm we face two challenges: the first is how to communicate to the visitor this fascinating realm. The second is to imagine a world where these biological hybrids and chimeras live next to us. Newspaper headlines like “Featherless Chickens”, “Self-Shearing Sheep”, “Biosteel Goat”, “Glowing Ornamental Fish”, “Xenotransplantation”, “Fatless Pork”, “Glowing Rabbit” and “Asexual Cattle” all have a sensational effect and provide material for science-fiction writers for many years to come.

Welcome to our Animal Pharm!

Genetic engineering is a new frontier of science that has the possibility to transform our lives. It opens up a world of wonders redefining what we consider design, architecture, environment, social fiction and science fiction. A world where new architectures are the main stage for a radical different life. It may look like science fiction but on the contrary it is the real world with existing sciences and technologies that are economically viable and technologically feasible.

Exhibition Dates

16 March – 16 April 2011

Opening Reception

Wednesday, 16 March 2011
6:00 PM – Lecture by Elio Caccavale, followed by Gallery opening

This event is open to the public and no reservations are required.