Synthetic biology is often defined as the science of redesigning organisms for useful purposes. While many of its applications are technical – such as developing therapeutics, sustainable materials, or diagnostic tools – it also opens up deeper cultural and philosophical questions about how we design, define, and imagine life itself.
In late 2024, the exhibition Emergence brought together artists and scientists to explore these questions through creative collaboration. Hosted in Los Angeles, the event using biological media and imagined ecosystems not to teach biology, but to explore its cultural and ethical possibilities. These artworks invited visitors to think about making, dreaming, and calling new realities into being.
Building on that momentum, new initiatives continued to expand this intersection of science and culture. The deCYPher Artist Residencies – launched via an open call in Autumn 2024 – placed artists in synthetic biology labs across European institutions throughout 2025, enabling them to explore how art and design can contribute to the enrichment of peoples’ lives and culture, and bring greater understanding to those inside and outside of the synthetic biology universe.
Similarly, in 2025, the iGEM competition introduced an Art & Design Village, inviting student teams to explore synthetic biology through creative formats – ranging from bio-based storytelling to visual and performative works.
These projects don’t aim to simplify science. Instead, they offer new ways of looking at it. Through artistic interpretation, complex ideas become more approachable, and scientific progress stays connected to human curiosity and values. As synthetic biology continues to grow, these conversations – between lab work and creative work – remind us that the future of life is not only a technical matter, but also a shared cultural one.
Read more:
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