Hackteria: An Example of Neomodern Activism

Abstract

As a platform for knowledge sharing and artistic exploration, Hackteria constitutes a network of artists and researchers that merges the use of biotechnologies with hacking and do-it-yourself strategies. Its process-oriented and performative approaches, which oppose the materialistic imperatives of the art market, follow the tradition of political art. In this paper, I argue that Hackteria embodies what could be considered as a neomodern activism, other recent examples of which are emerging within the new media art field. Instead of rejecting controversial new technologies, they propose a vision of a society that is propelled by a more democratic use and discussion of these technologies. The activities of Hackteria are examined through the presentation of a bio-lab created in Ljubljana.