At a recent event in Rotterdam, students from Emergence Delft presented their latest art installation, ‘Am II Alive?’, which explores the boundaries between life and technology. The installation immediately caught attention for its bold question: What does it mean to be alive?
BaSyC and EVOLF PI Cees Dekker and Programme Manager EVOLF Jasper van Heusden, who attended the event, were struck not only by the artwork itself but also by the students’ infectious enthusiasm as they explained synthetic cell research to the general public. Through clear storytelling and creative design, the students managed to make a highly complex scientific field both tangible and thought-provoking.
The installation was developed as part of Emergence Delft’s New Media Project 4. It creates a space where art and science converge, asking visitors to reflect on synthetic cells – artificial systems engineered to mimic the functions of life. These developments hold enormous promise for medicine, sustainability, and biotechnology, but they also raise pressing ethical questions:
· Where do we draw the line between living and non-living?
· Should humans be engineering life?
· How do we ensure society has a voice in these decisions?
The installation invites audiences to explore these questions interactively, demonstrating how synthetic biology is not only a scientific challenge but also a societal one.
Emergence Delft emphasizes the importance of public engagement in the future of biotechnology. By bringing together art, design, philosophy, and engineering, ‘Am II Alive?’ helps to demystify science while opening space for dialogue. The goal is not to provide answers, but to spark curiosity, reflection, and discussion across disciplines and communities.
For those who missed the Rotterdam presentation, ‘Am II Alive?’ will be exhibited at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven from 18 to 26 October 2025. This is a unique opportunity to experience how art can make the invisible world of synthetic cells both visible and relatable.
To dive deeper into the project and the ideas behind it, visit the official Emergence Delft project page: Am II Alive?