DARK Lunch Talks - The Calico Human Project (English spoken)
GUM FORUM
A cutting-edge lunchtime talk. Bring your lunch and immerse yourself in the darker sides of science & art. Artist Kuang-Yi Ku (TW) discusses the artistic project Calico Human, which explores the possibilities of skin colour manipulation. We will talk about ethical questions around ‘race’, migration, health and the future of biotechnology.
Thursday 26 October 2023
12pm unitl 1.30 pm
free with registration
bring your own lunch
part of DARK WEEKends
GUM FORUM
Calico Human is the result of 2 years of artistic research by artist Kuang-Yi Ku (Sheffield Hallam University) in collaboration with Prof. Chris Marine (KU Leuven) and his team at the VIB Center for Cancer Biology. Calico Human investigates the possibility and desirability of manipulating skin color through the use of new biomedical technologies. By activating the melanin-producing capacity of specialized cells (melanocytes), you could tan “safely” without causing skin damage, reducing the risk of melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. This project explores the complex relationships between race, migration, health, fashion and the future of biomedical services.
