I am fascinated by issues of visual plagiarism. I came across this nugget in my travels and I thought it was a great way to authenticate original art. With all the new technologies making it so easy for artwork to be ripped off, this one provides protection to the artist.
Australian painter Pro Hart has become the first artist to mark his work with his DNA. Other artists are expected to follow his lead, to authenticate their works beyond doubt…
Owners of up to 50 of Hart’s works attended a three-day ‘DNA clinic’ at the gallery last week. For £50 each, their paintings were authenticated and DNA-encrypted. This involves pulling apart DNA strands and finding segments unique to the donor. These are blended with paint and applied in an invisible film at a point on the canvas known only to the person applying it. The painting looks no different but is indelibly marked…
If a painting needs to be authenticated in court, the person who applied the DNA mark can do so in a matter of seconds using electronic lasers. Hart has encrypted about 1,500 of his works so far.
By Guardian Unlimited © Copyright Guardian Newspapers 2006
Published: 5/11/2002reference:
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-11-2002-18240.asp
November 7, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Talk about putting your heart and soul into your artwork. This is very cool and amazing.