The energy impact of the UV light on the bacteria is such that it disrupts the DNA sequence in the plasmid, accelerating the mutation rate. At the end of the show, the altered biblical sentence present in the bacteria is decoded and read back in plain English, offering insights into the process of transgenic interbacterial communication. The boundaries between carbon- based life and digital data are becoming as fragile as a cell membrane. The electronic music, generated live in the gallery, is synthesized by the use of a complex algorithm that transcribes the physiology of DNA into musical parameters. Changes in the sequence are dictated by the mutation rate of the bacteria.
Acoustic variations indicate the presence of remote participants logged onto the server.
Music synthesis is by Peter Gena and genetic consultation is by Dr. Charles Strom. This year's Festival invites the top theoreticians and artists in their respective fields to participate in symposia, exhibitions, performances, and discussions. Eduardo Kac is an artist and writer who investigates the philosophical and political dimensions of communications processes. Equally concerned with the aesthetic and the social aspects of verbal and non- verbal interaction, in his work Kac examines linguistic systems, dialogic exchanges, and interspecies communication. Kac's pieces, which often link virtual and physical spaces, propose alternative ways of understanding the role of communication processes in shaping consensual realities.