Bioart

This chapter makes explicit the association of certain art forms and art works to trans- and posthumanist ideas, which have become constitutive of the political, cultural and philosophical differences and similarities that exist between these concepts. It discusses a range of art practices with a view to identifying themes within trans- and posthumanist art, while also articulating some of the foundational contributions in this field. It begins by advancing a definition of bioart to capture the common ground between transhumanist and posthumanist art. It then considers interpretations of such works and rejection of their collective definition, by drawing attention to their socio-political and bioethical context. Finally, I consider how one may read bioart from the perspective of transhumanist and posthumanist thought. Throughout, some of the defining artists in the fields of transhumanist and posthumanist art are considered