Artist Diemut Strebe and scientist collaborators have "regrown" Vincent van Gogh's missing ear using cells from one of the painter's distant living relatives. The project, which reminds me of artist Stelarc's "Third Earl." Van Gogh's ear is currently on display at the ZKM Museum in Karlsruhe, Germany. From the ZKM:
The ear is grown from tissue engineered cartilage and is “identical” in shape to van Gogh’s ear by using computer imaging technology. It is composed of living cells that contain natural genetic information about him as well as engineered components, replicating in the ear as a “living art-piece”.
From NBC News:
The U.S.-based artist said the ear, which was grown at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, is being kept alive inside a case containing a nourishing liquid and could theoretically last for years.
Convincing Lieuwe van Gogh to take part was easy. "He loved the project right away," said Strebe.
