1RAW/ à vif

1 RAW/ à vif or the unnatural desire to design a human

The emerging biotechnologies, notably tissue engineering and genetic editing, challenge today's medical practices pushing us to reframe current bioethics statements.In the pursuit of making humankind better, those biotechnologies overturn the fundamental definition of being human.
What are the consequences of designing a human body? How will biotechnologies modify what we define as humankind?

Raw/ à vif or the unnatural desire to design a human is a research-driven and critical project at the crossroad between transhumanism, biology, and art, transporting the audience in three possible medical futures. By exploring how humanity could be transformed by current scientific research, the inquiry exposes three imaginary scenarios depicting new job positions.

The Matrix Sculptor
or The Future use of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Decellularization
The Body Parts Farmer
or The Future use of Tissue Engineering
The Organ Designer
or The Future use of Genetic Edition and Synthetic DNA

The Matrix Sculptor or The Future use of Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Decellularization

The increase in organs transplantation had created a new opportunity: the matrix sculptor. By using decellularized connective tissues, like fat, the sculptor can carve the desired body parts. They provide natural scaffolds for tissue engineers to grow the desired organ. All body parts can be prototyped, even the ones that are not yet existing.

The Body Parts Farmer or The Future use of Tissue Engineering

Pushing forward tissue engineering, manufacturers are now offering services to grows organs from stem cells collected from patients on 3D scaffolds to any person requesting it. Like a car, body parts can be produced, repaired, or changed.

The Organ Designer or The Future use of Genetic Edition and Synthetic DNA

Scientists can print DNA sequences enabling body modification to improve our health conditions. A design research team is now concentrating on developing an innovative and unique range of kidney organs capable of mutation when failure or malfunction happens.

This project was commissioned by Unbore Collective and was exhibited in February 2020 at Giudecca Art District in Venice. This bio-art project was born from a collaborative exchange with Prof. Lucy Di Silvio, Professor in tissue engineering at King’s College London. The project had double purposes: raising awareness and opening discussions about current research on stem cells and their controversial future medical uses.