TTTfellows: Art and Science Residency III “ Embryo Implantation Procedures”
The Ionian University is now presenting the last of three TTTfellows: Art and Science Residency on the theme of Embryo Implantation Procedures. Taking place 23 September - 4 October 2024 (online), and 7-18 October 2024 (on ground) on the island of Corfu, Greece.
TTTfellows, inspired by the thematics of the conference Taboo - Transgression - Transcendence in Art & Science, invites one scientist and one artist to collaborate in developing an Art & Science workshop / lecture performance / speculative exhibit related to informal art & biology training for artists, philosophers and social theorists on the theme of Embryo Implantation Procedures:
How do fertilized embryos implant into the uterine wall? How does a body accept and feed this partial other being? How is this implantation achieved during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)? The fellowship’s art and science research thematics have a focus on the artificial implantation of germline gene-edited interspecies transgenic human chimeras. We interpret the human chimeras from the perspective of Animal Studies, emphasizing on concepts of animal enrichment and ‘the animal turn’.
We approach the novel sensory spectra of non-humans, including ethology, habitus and personality while exploring topics of Legal, Ethical, Societal and Libidinal implications (LESLi) of human genetic engineering as bioart. Together with bioartist Adam Zaretsky social scientist Dalila Honorato the two selected fellows will speculate on the economics of surrogacy, the creation of artificial wombs, selective abortion, being born chimera and queer pregnancy (qPreg). embryonic development, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and speculative forms of embryo grading. The subtextual narrative mixes developmental biology of embryonic implantation with a group performance loosely based on becoming flamingo/octopus.
TTTfellows: Art and Science Residency is an interdisciplinary research incubator, a think-tank dedicated to bending the boundaries of art, science and technology. TTTfellow explore alternative sources of communicating knowledge by creating work proposals in the field of new media, hybrid arts and creative writing in terms of: open source technologies; DIY (do-it-yourself), DIWO (do-it-with-others) and DITO (do-it-together) cultures; and STEAM concepts involving interdisciplinary and non-formal education and workshopology activities.
In a time of extraordinary scientific advances and ethical dilemmas in the fields of bioinformatics, new reproduction technologies, transgenic germline alterations and animal behavior studies, TTTfellows is an invitation to rethink new reproductive technologies and concepts: artificial womb, birth control, ovum pickup, eco-burial, cryogenics, embryo grades, implantation/surrogacy, genital development, semi-living death studies, selective reduction, posthuman family planning and transgenic germline tailoring.
Organized by the Ionian University, it aims to pair Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) specialists like gynecologists, developmental biologists, embryologists, IVF technicians, new reproductive technologists as well as qualified human gene editing training staff with an accompanying bioartist, performance artist, device artist or hacker/maker tech artist for the development of creative informal mutagenic IVF training for artists, philosophers and social theorists.
TTTfellows: Art and Science Residency is an hybrid artist and academic experimental project, organized in three different seasons while offering to its fellows the opportunity to contribute as well to the activities of TTTlabs BioFeral.BeachCamp (BFBC) and other activities developed by the Department of Audio & Visual Arts:
TTTfellows I. (Spring 2023) Human Oocyte and Collection/Cryopreservation,
TTTfellows III. (Spring 2024) Artificial Insemination
TTTfellows IIII. (Fall 2024) Embryo Implantation Procedures
TTTfellows is integrated in the project Rewilding Cultures by the Feral Labs Network, co-funded by the European Union, aiming to bring together one artist and one scientist for one month of interdisciplinary friction and Ionian environmental immersion. TTTfellows: Art and Science Residency programmes are designed for growing deeper community ties by working with local hubs: offering space for one scientist and one artist or writer to combine theory and practice in spaces and places of reflection; stimulating interdisciplinary discussion and speculation in order to cultivate art-sci collaboration; and rewilding hybrid arts with depth scientific knowledge aiding in the breadth of creative interpretation. Participants are willing to contribute to the development of a local Feral Labs DIY Bio Hub i.e. presentation for graduate students; and writing a speculative text for publication / exhibit.
