Lithuanian geneticists, artist create painting using DNA

VILNIUS - Two Lithuanian geneticists Lukas Zemaitis and Ignas Galminas have collaborated with artist Tadas Sokolovas to create the world's first painting using DNA insertion.

Named "DNA Painting No. 1", the artwork features Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, one of Lithuania's most famous artists, according to Genomika, a company working in the area of synthetic biology, genetics and biotechnology.

The Lithuanian method opens up the way for information-containing artworks that are impossible to forge, the company said.

The painting has two sides – the visible one and the invisible one. The invisible side features the first-ever use of DNA writing technology in paint, encoding 196 of Ciurlionis' most famous works or art, wishes for Lithuania, collected for the whole past year, as well as opening the door to the digital form of NFT art.

The artwork's canvas is covered with over 30 different layers of acrylic and lacquer paint, overlapping to create a colorful graffiti style full of inscriptions and symbols.

The work will also feature a special symbol created specifically for this project and indicating that the marked piece of art contains DNA with coded information. 

Last year, the same scientists wrote Lithuania's national anthem into a DNA molecule. The anthem is also integrated into the new painting, encoded in the paint of the record-player featuring in the painting.

The DNA-written information can be read using special technology.

The painting will be unveiled at the Center for Civil Education on July 6.