Het`er`o`gen`e`sis

n. 1. (Biol.) Spontaneous generation, so called.

2. (Biol.) That method of reproduction in which the successive generations differ from each other,the parent organism producing offspring different in habit and structure from itself, the original form, however, reappearing afterone or more generations;
opposed to homogenesis, or gamogenesis.

Heterogenesis is generally a project about race, class, and any other form of classification that both groups and separates people. The most important part about this project is providing people a space in which they can self-identify. Self-identification is important in that too often in our society we are placed in to preexisting boxes. This identification is accomplished through a survey, which allows people to express certain aspects about themselves and their family, all of which are nearly as arbitrary as skin color or gender. By using these questions to connect people, the project aims at showing some of the shortcomings of basing social classifications on negligible factors.

In order to collect this data it is still important to have a constrained structure to funnel this information into. Although the questions do seem rigid, they are very open, and will help draw links between people of different races through seemingly mundane cultural tendencies, physical traits, etc. In that sense this project shows a type of integration and a sort of web or matrix of interconnectedness from seemingly different people.

Please visit the Explore section of the site to see photos of the physical installation of the project. I am always looking for ways to improve my work, so feel free to e-mail me your thoughts and suggestions.