skinterfaces
From February 1st until March 30th, FACT – the Foundation for Art & Creative Technology in Liverpool – is organising the exhibition ‘sk-interfaces’.
“A groundbreaking exhibition on the uncertain limits between art and science, sk-interfaces explores, materially and metaphorically, the concept of skin as a technological interface. This multi-disciplinary exhibition launches FACT’s Human Futures programme.”
The Human Futures programme is divided into 4 main themes myBody (the biological environment and our relationship to the body), myMind (the digital environment and our relationship to artificial life), myWorld (the physical world and our relationship to the natural and built environment). The MyBody programme to be kickstarted with sk-interfaces, also includes film evenings (e.g. Peter Greenaway’s “The Pillow Book“ on Feb 6, “ORLAN, Carnal Art“ on Feb 27, “Strange culture“ on March 19).
Among the work on showcase at sk-interfaces are “designer hymens by medical artist Julia Reodica [vivolabs], a coat made of blended skin cultures by legendary French artist ORLAN, Jun Takita‘s model brain infused with glowing moss, and biotechnological ‘leather’ growing in the galleries by the Tissue Culture & Art Project“. The exhibition is curated by bio-art specialist Jens Hauser, tapping into science, politics, philosophy and architecture.
On February 8th and 9th, a conference will provide the forum for a more in depth discussion of aesthetic, philosophical, scientific and medical.
The notions of technology moving from 3rd (building, e.g. ambient intelligence) to 2nd (clothing, e.g. smart textiles) to first skin (e.g. dermal interfaces) to within (e.g. implants) is a powerful stimulant for future-oriented thought dealing not only with issues of new patterns of interaction etc. but also of notions of identity, humanity etc.
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