Paul Vanouse is an artist who uses molecular biology techniques as his toolkit. He posits that the DNA image is the most culturally authoritative artifact of our era, noting that in the courtroom it is deemed the “gold standard” of criminal identification. By using DNA as a plastic medium of representation, he seeks to destabilize this authority.
Ocular Revision is an artwork that uses a custom, circular apparatus for creating DNA images. Using this apparatus, Vanouse whimsically inverts the term “Genetic Mapping”, which ordinarily means experimentally locating specific genes within DNA sequences. When scientists make maps OF DNA: DNA is the subject. In Ocular Revision, on the other hand, Vanouse makes maps WITH DNA: DNA is the medium. By selectively processing DNA of common laboratory organisms, he creates DNA images resembling hemispheric views of the earth’s continents. The exhibition also contains excerpts of his earlier 'Latent Figure Protocol' project.
