TABOO - TRANSGRESSION - TRANSCENDENCE

In this talk, we share the motivations and processes behind Stamping Genes: A Speculative Union of Flamingo, Urchin, and Rice, a conceptual performance and evolutionary biohacking experiment. In this scenario, the fusion of two species produces a novel gene expression that enhances the nutrition and breeding capacities of both species, symbolizing resilience and adaptability.

Building on a collaboration initiated at TTTlabs in Crete, we explore key questions that drive our inquiry: How can horizontal evolutionary biology—where genetic material flows between organisms rather than through lineage—reshape our understanding of adaptation and evolution? What does consent mean when working with microbiota and nonhuman species, and how can we address the ethical challenges this raises? How do we challenge entrenched notions of human purity and exceptionalism to envision more inclusive and interconnected approaches to evolution and coexistence?

Blending art and science, this talk invites reflection on these questions and explores new possibilities for resilience, adaptation, and interconnected futures.