Dorcas Müller: The Creation of Neuros (2002)

©​ VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2015
Duration
5:43
Category
Work of Art
Description
Date: 2002
Material/Technique: Video color stereo 4:3
Copyright: ©​ VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2015

In the year 2000 Dorcas Müller came across the neurochip research of Prof. Peter Fromherz. The first functioning neurochip, interface between technical and organic material, was developed in the early 90ies at his research department for membrane- and neurophysics at the Max-Planck-Institut in Martinsried near Munich. It uses silicon chips and living brain cells of the leech. These so called »Retziuscells«  measure 60 micrometers in diameter, which is an extraordinary size for cells and makes them especially well suited.

Dorcas Müller traveled to Martinsried to meet Prof. Fromherz. This encounter resulted in a spontaneous offer to work at his department and with the equipment there. The video »The creation of Neuros« Dorcas Müller made in co-operation concern themselves with the ports of the physically real connection of the human body to the digital net. The corporal performative act dominates pictorial content and thus brings the body back into the center of scientific interest. The difference between her ideas and perceptions expressed in her video work creates a changed impression of scientific models at the institute. In the video the components chip – leech braincell – human being are translated into the world of immediate perception. A live leech pumps information between a (real) neurochip and a human hand, but the connection is not lasting...

The scope of her work is not only comprised of an aesthetic, formalistic moment, but also moves on a social and scientific level: through curious and persevering intervention she has gained admission and artistic freedom within the area of neurochip research at the Max-Planck-Institut.

Dorcas Müller

Dorcas Müller (1973) studied media art at the University of Design Karlsruhe with Professor Ulay (Uwe Laysiepen). Among the recognition that she has received for her artwork have been stipends from the Kunstfonds Bonn and the Körber Foundation, Germany.

www.dorcasmueller.de

Text and Biography: The Artist

Participants