GenArt: Interdisciplinary Art and Science Event Memory

This dataset documents GenArt, an interdisciplinary biotechnology and art initiative developed as an educational and co-creation strategy involving students from the Bacteriology and Clinical Laboratory Program of the Universidad de Santander (UDES), Colombia, and art students from the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM). The initiative brought together participants from art and STEM-related disciplines to collaboratively explore the intersection of biotechnology, science communication, and cultural expression.

The GenArt event was held at the Universidad de Santander, Carare Building, on May 15–16, 2025, where interdisciplinary teams worked through guided learning and collaborative creation processes. All participants completed a shared introductory training through the online course “BioArt: Science and Creativity in Action”, developed by Fundación Eureka, which provided foundational knowledge in microbiology, genetic manipulation, and the use of chromogenic-protein-producing bacteria for artistic purposes. Following this training, students formed interdisciplinary teams, each supported by a tutor, to co-create artworks inspired by Indigenous communities from Colombia and Mexico.

Art students led the conceptual and visual design of the pieces, which were first developed through digital co-creation. These designs were later interpreted by students from the Bacteriology and Clinical Laboratory Program into agar-based biological artworks using genetically modified bacteria, following established biosafety guidelines. The resulting works were assembled into a collective installation titled “Ethnic Cell”, structured around the central artwork “The Nucleus” and surrounded by 22 artworks representing Indigenous communities from both countries.

The final installation was exhibited as part of the International Museum Day activities at the Universidad de Santander on May 23–24, 2025. This dataset compiles the complete visual and documentary record of the collaborative artworks, including photographic documentation, digital designs, and supporting materials, and serves as an event memory and educational resource for interdisciplinary practices at the intersection of biotechnology, art, and science communication in Latin America.