Developed with artist and designer Adam Peacock and curator Danai Papadimitriou
Held in collaboration with The Vigeland Museum and Karmaklubb*
Adam Peacock, installation view of Genetics Gym at Fashion Space Gallery 2017
Residency Dates: 10 August 2020 - 13 September 2021
Residency 18: Perfection / Speculation proposes a multi-disciplinary investigation of the meanings and ethics of genetic technologies.
This residency is informed by Adam Peacock’s Genetics Gym project, developed while he was Designer-in-Residence at London College of Fashion’s Fashion Space Gallery. Applications were invited from investigators whose focus is on the modifiable human body as a medium of expression, experimentation, research and social interaction. Artists, designers, scientists, writers, psychologists, programmers, film- and video-makers, anthropologists and others based in Oslo, across Norway or internationally, were all welcomed to apply. The final selection sought distinctive approaches to the residency topic, reflect the scientific as well as the social and cultural dimensions of the area in focus.
Perfection / Speculation connects with body cultures of the past, present and future. It is supported by a dynamic relationship between its two residency partners: the Vigeland Museum and queer live events co-ordinators Karmaklubb*. The project revisits the work of Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) to investigate past and future constructions of gender, race, sexuality, age, body politics, and the notion of the ideal human. Building on Karmaklubb*’s agendas, it aims to probe the social and digital cultures arising from discussions and practices around genetics and the body, and to establish a hub within global conversations about future impacts of design technologies on our bodies.
Perfection / Speculation features events developed with the residency partners, a multi-faceted approach to research and project development, and the possibility of a concluding public event showcasing diverse residency outcomes. Events will include a post-talk party arranged by Karmaklubb*.
Background - Genetics Gym
The Genetics Gym project explores the consumer psychology that informs technology-driven contemporary human interactions. In development over seven years, the project presents a hypothetical scenario in which a commercial pharmaceutical company allows consumers to ‘design’ themselves in any way imaginable using genetic technology. Genetics Gym explores the psychological preconditions that drive the desire for bodily modification and transformation. It is part of a wider series of experiments that Peacock has titled ‘The Validation Junky’ – examinations of technology-driven socio-cultural issues, including testing the possibility of programming artificial intelligence to ‘read’ the subjective, qualitative and highly context-specific attributes that make up our “ideal” self-presentations. Genetics Gym is a collaboration between Peacock’s studio, UCL’s Human Genetics and Embryology department and London College of Fashion’s Applied Psychology in Fashion department. Originally exhibited at the Fashion Space Gallery in 2017, Genetics Gym was also shown in Science Gallery Melbourne for PERFECTION (2018) and Science Gallery Dublin for PERFECTION (2019). It also forms a chapter in ‘Crafting Anatomies: The body as site in fashion and textiles research practice’, scheduled for publication by Bloomsbury Academic Publishers in February 2020.
About Adam Peacock
Adam Peacock is a British artist and designer living in London. He works at the intersection of Architecture, Fine-Art, Fashion, and Computer-Science. His studio's lens, The Validation Junky, developed at the Royal College of Art (2012– 2014), explores how new and emerging technologies are affecting human behaviours.
His work has been recognised with awards including Robert Garland Treseder Fellowship at Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne (2018), 2016 Designer in Residence at the Fashion Space Gallery at London College of Fashion (2016-17), and Artist in Residence at the Visible Futures Lab at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in NYC (2015-16). Adam's work has been featured by the BBC, Product Innovation Apparel Milan, and Science Gallery Melbourne for PERFECTION, Science Gallery Dublin for PERFECTION, Fashion Clash Festival Maastricht, and published by Bloomsbury within Crafting Anatomies.
He has designed on projects for Heatherwick Studio, Amanda Levete Architects and Wilkinson Eyre, and has consulted on future strategy projects with Audi, FIAT, Stella McCartney, Science Gallery Network, and NEOM. Between 2016-2020, he led the ’Speculative Prototyping’ unit on MA Fashion Futures at London College of Fashion, and in 2018-19 co-led an M.Arch Studio entitled ’Fashion-Architecture Lab: The DNA of Perfection’ at Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne. He has been a Visiting Lecturer at Universities including the Royal College of Art, Bartlett School of Architecture, Architectural Association, Southern California Institute of Architecture, and ArtCentre College of Design.
About Dania Papadimitriou
Danai Papadimitriou is a curator based in London and working in the fields of art, architecture and design. Her curatorial practice examines the way these fields interact and shape human behaviours and communities within an urban context. Most recently Danai has been studying yoga practice and philosophy aiming to explore new ways of interaction between people and communities, as well as the role of spirituality in contemporary western society.
About The Vigeland Museum
The Vigeland Museum is devoted to Norway's most famous sculptor, Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943). It combines the curating of Vigeland’s heritage with the presentation of contemporary sculpture, installation and video art.
About Karmaklubb*
Karmaklubb* is a nomadic queer club concept and conversational platform, dedicated to ‘thought and pleasure across categories’. Its events bring together diverse individuals and groups, forming hybrid spaces designed to break down boundaries and challenge categorical thinking.
The Residents
