KEITH SKENE
Keith Skene took part in the science and art panel and
presented a talk entitled: A stitch in time means no more patched jeans: optimality
in a posthuman world. He began by citing Karl Popper who says that if perception
is wholly dependent on context, then stripping away context is a strategy
of doubtful value. In Skene’s work the temporal and spatial contexts
are key elements to understanding how the Earth functions. Patterns of organization
occur in identical formats at each level of organization in the biosphere.
Constraints and opportunities shape these organizational structures. Form
and function are inextricably linked throughout these levels, and form is
the basis of function, from enzymes to cities. Skene also explored D’arcy
Thompson’s law of transformation and noted that life generally works
at a sub-optimal level. Examples include errors in DNA correction during replication,
wherein a perfect correction system would preclude any mutations, thus preventing
evolution. Also, the fig wasp doesn’t work efficiently in parasitizing
fig eggs, and thus allows the mutualistic relationship to work.
In the discussion of the posthuman condition, Skene also referred to Richard Dawkins who has said that biological evolution in human beings has ceased. With the impact of silicon chip driven processes replacing human function at many levels of social function, and thus the perfecting of previously sub-optimal activity, what will be the implications in the posthuman world? He concluded that exploring these issues in art-science collaborations has the potential to generate new insights into important aspects of the future world.
Growing up in Northern Ireland in 1970s, Keith
Skene has been equally influenced by his mother,
a semi-professional artist, and his father, a mechanic, in terms of his interest
in science and arts. He finally opted for a Science degree after working as
an outdoor pursuits instructor, and traveling worldwide. Keith has been a
lecturer in Biology at the University of Dundee for the last 7 years. His
research and traveling have led me to engage in recognizing patterns of organization
at different levels of life, from DNA, through communities to Gaia, the planetary
super-organism. Within these levels of organization, the sub-optimal outcomes
play a key role. Finally, the spatial and temporal constraints and patterns,
that have shaped the evolution of our planet and ourselves, forms a key part
of his interests. Given his background he was delighted to accept an open
invitation to work with Gina Czarnecki on two projects, Silvers Alter (showing
as part of Designer Bodies exhibition) and Infection.
"I feel strongly that art-science interactions can produce innovative, important and significant advances in both fields", says Keith Skene.
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