HUMAN+

The HUMAN+ The Future of Our Species exhibition is held at the ArtScience Museum. I was expecting a more scientific kind of exhibition, but there are a number of artworks showing what it could be like for the future of mankind.


Chapter 1: Augmented Ability

The exhibition starts with the showcase of prosthetics, which is something that is familiar to us and we see them very often in our everyday lives, even if we are not a user of one.



In the next room, artworks of overlaid photos were put up on the wall and they give me a headache when I looked at them. Then, there's also a series of scary photos (behind the orange panels) showing Stelarc' surgery, where a "ear" is constructed onto his forearm. Next, we move into a dark room and videos of Stelarc's works with robotics are screened on the walls. In fact, right at the entrance to this exhibition, there is another video showing him strapped to a robot arm. There's also a video about the Harlequin’s Coat that consist living cells taken from different species. These are not quite the kind of artwork I know how to appreciate even though they are very much technology-based.

The sculptures of the Sonochromatic Head and Seismic Arm bring us back to a more real application of technology. Neil Harbisson is recognised as the world's first cyborg because of the implanted antenna in his skull that helps him "see" colours.


Chapter 2: Encountering Others


Those rows of eyeballs on the right (in the picture) are designed to follow the visitors who walk pass. And in the background, you can tickle the "feet" or squeeze the "hand" to get a "response" from the guy in the screen.


Would any parent like to have this robot arm rock their baby in this crib?


Human Version - photographic works of Yves Gellie


Chapter 3: Authoring Environment


The Human Pollination Project - An artist's solution to the decreasing honeybee population.



Pick up the phone and it will read to you the story of the specimen, otherwise, you can read the card yourself.


The genetic design of the fictional Beamer Bees.


Chapter 4: Life At The Edges


Sculptures of babies, each with a modification to deal with potential future problem, such as global warming.


Semi-Loving Worry Dolls - an art in tissue culture.


The magnified photos of the worry dolls.


Nadine the female humanoid social robot. I watched some visitors speaking with her through the mic and I think it's more fun talking to Siri.


Soon, a second humanoid social robot named Charlie will be created.