Inspired by the Jacquard loom, the artists used genomic data sets from three genes to generate designs to be woven into tapestries. All of these genes have the potential to be altered using CRISPR gene-editing technology.
The project was made in a series of explorations into the future of CRISPR gene-editing technology, machine learning, and automation.
The Jacquard loom was created in 1804-1805 by Joseph-Marie Jacquard. It was the first machine to use punch cards to store digital information to produce complex patterns for use in textile design. The Jacquard loom was a revolution in automation and was an important stepping stone to modern computing. The loom as an artifact represents the birth of automation and an exploration of society losing control over the effects of its technologies.