Biological Klein Blue

2022 - 2024

George Basalla, in his seminal work The Evolution of Technology, cautions us to use the term evolution judiciously, highlighting the vast differences between the artificial world and the natural one: One is the purposeful result of human activity, the other the random outcome of natural processes... Artist Wang Yuyang, in collaboration with a Shanghai-based biotech firm, has developed a unique Biological IKB. This hue originates from a trace of blue produced by microorganisms during their proliferation and iteration, a phenomenon scientist have amplified through genetic modification, enabling these organisms to continuously generate substantial amounts of blue pigment. This process serves as an eco-friendly alternative to the toxic byproduct of industrial blue employed by Yves Klein in the last century. Biological IKB visually embodies a seductive duality of danger and beauty. Unlike its industrial counterpart, this blue hue is entirely derived from living organisms, posing no harm. When the artist applies this blue to the canvas, it interacts with the microorganisms present in the natural world, including those on the artist’s studio and body, initiating a series of chemical reactions: the blue is not initially so translucent but evolves over time, revealing the extraordinary, vivid colors of fungal spots. At the exhibition Chaos Mosis in Shenzhen Art Museum, the artist transformed this blue into a colossal decoration, dyeing the entire floor blue as microorganisms continuously altered their forms through interaction with the audience, leaving their marks on the canvas. The artist also discovered a type of marble known as Brazilian Azul Acquamarina Dream Blue, whose natural speckles combined with the biological blue to create a wondrous effect of nature’s long-term coupling. This fusion not only showcases the intimacy between biology and geology but also brings new perspectives and inspiration to Wang Yuyang’s creative endeavors.

Biological Klein Blue 20230809
Type: Painting
Materials: Microbe, Marble
Dimensions: H 99 x L 85cm

Biological Klein Blue 20231011
Type: Painting
Materials: Microbe, Marble
Dimensions: H 99 x L 85cm