The Cactus Project entailed the use of the agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer introducing keratin genes into cells of cacti. The transformed cells were used to regenerate engineered transgenic cacti. The aim of the experiment was having the keratins expressed in cactus cells morphologically similar to hair and for the cacti to produce it externally. There have been discussions on the aspects that the external expression and morphology of hairs could be extended trichomes with the keratins expressed internally.

They have been displayed publicly twice before in exhibitions (and transported numerously for private views and meetings) but the aim has always been not to generate overt attention, but rather see what happens when hybrid perversions hits our culture softly.

The Cactus Project began in 2001. Initially our interest was experimenting with and producing transgenic plants. The choice of working with cacti came down to their fleshy construct often appearing monolithic and at the same time innocent - protected by growing spines. This relationship between the phallic stem and spikes signify their anti-sexuality. By introducing hair, which is a sign of reproduction, a sign of our bodies becoming or being sexual inverses the anti-sexual connotations associated with cacti. Thus the cacti expressing hair, their association expresses sexuality. Its perversion lies in the reversal of the cacti signs. The transformation process produced a fascinating semantic orgy, turning genetic engineering inside-out, whose asexual sterile process had been reversed by the transgenic cacti remaining sexual (an organic dildo - growing). Thus, for me the erotic reading is one where I see the growth in motion rather than on a static image that this reading becomes apparent, so it was a reading that evolved for me. There are many readings - this is one. I think this perversion subtly resonates in a broader sense the cultural climate of genetic engineering today. Genetic engineering – particularly transgenics, is seen as something anti-sexual or asexual in that its manipulation directly interferes with the natural reproductive process and transfers genetic material from one specie to another.  This transference, in this context, does not happen naturally.  It reverses the sexuality and propagation associated with living entities into something asexual. Transgenesis significance is enmeshed into our existence and currently, we are landscaping with transgenic crops and populating farms with transgenic animals. The Cactus Project reverses that notion bringing into focus this perversion. Reverses it - because genetic engineering is represented as something perverted. It’s perverted because of its treatment of sexuality and raw penetration. Within it, we find all crossing of boundaries.

The transgenic cacti do not serve any particular role in a commercial sphere or in supporting an ever growing population.  They are merely there.  They were not grown to have better survivability.  By creating something that didn’t need to be created, in terms of the above mentioned regimes, something has changed….something different is going on, a different desire, different intentions which in turn create a different type of interaction and a different type of life.