Digital Technologies as Tools – Blind Genes
I was drawn to Andreas Muller-Pohle’s ‘Blind Genes’ because the familiarity of the Braille caught my eye. The relationship between the gene sequences and Braille really impressed me. The idea of using the genetic code for blindness to create a piece of art that was represented in a way in which the people who were afflicted with the disability could understand was interesting to me. After reading the passage, the line “Through a process of data translation, the genetic, organic ‘code’ for blindness manifests itself as Braille, the code and sign system that establishes an ‘interface’ with the seeing world.” was helpful in understanding the artist’s motivation and unique view point. The stacking of the symbols for cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine was a clever way to create the digital image. This piece ties together the idea of binary code through the use of Braille as well as through the use of a computer’s binary code to create the artwork. As explained in Chapter 1 of “Digital Technologies as Tools”, it is argued that the digital image is not necessarily representational because it does not record physical reality, but is made up of pixels that consist of mathematical algorithms. The pixels themselves are part of a physical reality. The diligence it takes to use bits in order to create an image is admirable and leads to endless possibilities when creating artwork.