As part of a project exploring the domestication of ornamental plants, Tapio was researching techniques to work with somatic hybridisation.
Hege Tapio is a new media artist working with photography, video, electronic installation and Bioart. Tapio manages the i/o/lab center for technologically based and unstable arts in Stavanger, Norway and is interested in the intersections between art and science. Through i/o/lab she is currently busy etablishing the Article Biennale (www.article.no) together with public venues for screenbased art(www.publicscreens.no)
Her project aimed to develop somewhat monstrous hybrids by fusing two distantly related plants. During her stay she investigated methods - with the expertise from Gary Cass, to isolate protoplasts, which will eventually be subjected to a fusing process. Tapio will continue her work in her homemade laboratory in Norway.
The two-and-a-half-week residency was funded by a grant from the Norwegian Visual Artists Association and City of Stavanger.
2007