In recent times, biohacking has transcended its roots in personal health optimization to inspire the art world. At the Frieze LA exhibition, artist Xin Liu presented "The Theater of Metamorphoses," a bronze cast of her mouth encased in a refrigeration system used for freezing human embryos. This piece delves into the future interplay between evolution and engineering, prompting viewers to contemplate the merging of biology and technology.
Similarly, the late Pippa Garner's sculptures, such as "Kar-Mann," a fusion of human and automotive elements, reflect her vision of becoming a cyborg. These works challenge traditional notions of identity and the human form, resonating with a younger generation interested in various forms of biohacking.
To create your own biohacking-inspired art, start by collecting personal biometric data—like heart rate, sleep cycles, or step counts—using any fitness tracker or smartphone app. Then, transform this data into visual or sculptural form: for example, print heart rate graphs and trace them onto canvas with paint or ink, or 3D-print shapes generated from daily sleep patterns. You can also incorporate biological materials, like hair or nail clippings, preserved in resin or embedded in mixed-media collages to symbolize the body’s evolution. For a digital twist, use generative art tools (e.g. Processing or TouchDesigner) to translate your biorhythms into shifting light or sound installations. This merges your own biology with technology, turning quantified self into physical, expressive art.