gabe barcia-colombo dispenses genetics with DNA vending machine

synthesizing science and his artistic practice, american artist gabe barcia-colombo raises awareness of our increasing access to biotechnology with his installation, DNA vending machine. barcia-colombo began by sampling the genetics of his friends, collecting and extracting various specimens of DNA and amassing them in test tubes. 

drawing a comparison between ubiquitous ‘blind box’ toys — sealed limited edition collectible figurines packaged randomly with many variations — and human biology, barcia-colombo then comprised the liquid units within a rectangular package, each bearing the portrait of its corporal origin, as well as a unique link to a custom extraction video. the strings of DNA and the coils of the vending machine visually connect the ideas, while subtly conveying a serious tone of the legal rights over the ownership of one’s own DNA and an increasing societal loss of privacy.

a single sample of DNA contained in the vending machine

dispensing the genetics

an individual sample of DNA from the vending machine

portraits of the human samples