Beatriz da Costa’s multidisciplinary projects are bioart with a heart, installations, videos, and performances that artfully merge biotechnology and social issues. Many of her projects entail the idea and practice of “public amateurism,” in which artists conduct science research based on hobbyism and DIY interest as a form of active social participation. Over many years Beatriz has produced cross-species projects in which microbes, pigeons, and genetically modified crops have played a key role. In the Life Garden, an installation from her latest series The Costs of Life, she blends medical research related to cancer with her personal experiences to create a greenhouse filled with plants that are medicinal for treating cancer. Beatriz generously answered a few questions proposed by intern Katherine DiPierro about her engaging interdisciplinary work.
