
so who are we and who or what will we be in the future we’re not talking about
in the future we’re not talking about
in the future we’re not talking about future as in tomorrow next year
future as in tomorrow next year
future as in tomorrow next year but the further future when our
but the further future when our
but the further future when our consequences of the human activities
consequences of the human activities
consequences of the human activities might change us dramatically and when we
might change us dramatically and when we
might change us dramatically and when we think about the future you we were
think about the future you we were
think about the future you we were interested in the whole you the network
interested in the whole you the network
interested in the whole you the network of bacteria fungus and other microbes
of bacteria fungus and other microbes
of bacteria fungus and other microbes that creates the whole you and we’re
that creates the whole you and we’re
that creates the whole you and we’re inspired when scientists cordis the
inspired when scientists cordis the
inspired when scientists cordis the human super organism so we are super all
human super organism so we are super all
human super organism so we are super all together this different way of looking
together this different way of looking
together this different way of looking at ourselves as a massive living thing
at ourselves as a massive living thing
at ourselves as a massive living thing inspire other our artwork and vision the
inspire other our artwork and vision the
inspire other our artwork and vision the super organism concept let us explore
super organism concept let us explore
super organism concept let us explore endless possibilities human can evolve
endless possibilities human can evolve
endless possibilities human can evolve into with the help of disruptive
into with the help of disruptive
into with the help of disruptive technologies and so when we think about
technologies and so when we think about
technologies and so when we think about the popular views of the future they
the popular views of the future they
the popular views of the future they were given often in films for instance
were given often in films for instance
were given often in films for instance they’re often clinical or sterile and
they’re often clinical or sterile and
they’re often clinical or sterile and out of sync
out of sync
out of sync to what we actually are is the human
to what we actually are is the human
to what we actually are is the human super organism so we collaborate
super organism so we collaborate
super organism so we collaborate together and use our different cultural
together and use our different cultural
together and use our different cultural lenses to try and form new visions of
lenses to try and form new visions of
lenses to try and form new visions of that alternative us in the future so I
that alternative us in the future so I
that alternative us in the future so I grew up in Tokyo the ultimate artificial
grew up in Tokyo the ultimate artificial
grew up in Tokyo the ultimate artificial city I was reading manga watching
city I was reading manga watching
city I was reading manga watching animation and playing game with my
animation and playing game with my
animation and playing game with my friends and family happily living in
friends and family happily living in
friends and family happily living in multiple artificial world even the
multiple artificial world even the
multiple artificial world even the public toilet there’s this machine which
public toilet there’s this machine which
public toilet there’s this machine which makes this water flushing sound to erase
makes this water flushing sound to erase
makes this water flushing sound to erase any of
any of
any of not real human sound and I left a
not real human sound and I left a
not real human sound and I left a defined I came to the realization that
defined I came to the realization that
defined I came to the realization that this Darrell Ward is somehow out of sync
this Darrell Ward is somehow out of sync
this Darrell Ward is somehow out of sync with my biological myself and I grew up
with my biological myself and I grew up
with my biological myself and I grew up here on a farm in the pens in Cambridge
here on a farm in the pens in Cambridge
here on a farm in the pens in Cambridge here and as you can see it’s really flat
here and as you can see it’s really flat
here and as you can see it’s really flat but it gives a space to observe their
but it gives a space to observe their
but it gives a space to observe their changing cycles of nature and the
changing cycles of nature and the
changing cycles of nature and the seasons but this too is artificially
seasons but this too is artificially
seasons but this too is artificially sustained with a network of drains and
sustained with a network of drains and
sustained with a network of drains and pumping stations that maintain this
pumping stations that maintain this
pumping stations that maintain this landscape from reverting back into a
landscape from reverting back into a
landscape from reverting back into a marshland that it formerly was as a
marshland that it formerly was as a
marshland that it formerly was as a consequence it’s continually sinking and
consequence it’s continually sinking and
consequence it’s continually sinking and at the risk of soil erosion as well so
at the risk of soil erosion as well so
at the risk of soil erosion as well so as artists we think a lot about the
as artists we think a lot about the
as artists we think a lot about the future and when we talk about the future
future and when we talk about the future
future and when we talk about the future we never try to solve the problem nor
we never try to solve the problem nor
we never try to solve the problem nor predictor of the future we are creating
predictor of the future we are creating
predictor of the future we are creating again this space for us to explore
again this space for us to explore
again this space for us to explore endless possibilities human can evolve
endless possibilities human can evolve
endless possibilities human can evolve into and this can change according to
into and this can change according to
into and this can change according to our desires and dream back in the day we
our desires and dream back in the day we
our desires and dream back in the day we used to be a hunter-gatherer and 10,000
used to be a hunter-gatherer and 10,000
used to be a hunter-gatherer and 10,000 years ago we made a big leap in human
years ago we made a big leap in human
years ago we made a big leap in human evolution we set the fast seat and
evolution we set the fast seat and
evolution we set the fast seat and started to store the crops here began
started to store the crops here began
started to store the crops here began the agricultural revolution and so when
the agricultural revolution and so when
the agricultural revolution and so when we think of the future were actually
we think of the future were actually
we think of the future were actually really excited about what our dreams and
really excited about what our dreams and
really excited about what our dreams and desires reveal about today enough today
desires reveal about today enough today
desires reveal about today enough today so our alternative visions that we
so our alternative visions that we
so our alternative visions that we create in our work try to unveil in our
create in our work try to unveil in our
create in our work try to unveil in our masks what we are as human animals and
masks what we are as human animals and
masks what we are as human animals and the human condition but also how these
the human condition but also how these
the human condition but also how these visions can create alternatives to how
visions can create alternatives to how
visions can create alternatives to how we might approach our biggest problems
we might approach our biggest problems
we might approach our biggest problems today such as how do we feed an
today such as how do we feed an
today such as how do we feed an overpopulated world so here this our
overpopulated world so here this our
overpopulated world so here this our first collaboration project called our
first collaboration project called our
first collaboration project called our culture when we thought about the food
culture when we thought about the food
culture when we thought about the food shortage in the future it was very
shortage in the future it was very
shortage in the future it was very important for us to change the question
important for us to change the question
important for us to change the question from what we will eat to how do we
from what we will eat to how do we
from what we will eat to how do we our body alternatively so big
our body alternatively so big
our body alternatively so big inspiration came from this amazing
inspiration came from this amazing
inspiration came from this amazing organism called Le Coq Latika it’s a sea
organism called Le Coq Latika it’s a sea
organism called Le Coq Latika it’s a sea slug which evolved to have a new organ
slug which evolved to have a new organ
slug which evolved to have a new organ on its back containing the algae they
on its back containing the algae they
on its back containing the algae they they with this new organ they are able
they with this new organ they are able
they with this new organ they are able to get the energy from the Sun Sun from
to get the energy from the Sun Sun from
to get the energy from the Sun Sun from the this through this algae it’s like
the this through this algae it’s like
the this through this algae it’s like photosynthesizing of the plant and who
photosynthesizing of the plant and who
photosynthesizing of the plant and who wouldn’t want to gain that ability
wouldn’t want to gain that ability
wouldn’t want to gain that ability that’s a pretty amazing organism and for
that’s a pretty amazing organism and for
that’s a pretty amazing organism and for us it was our challenge and this is our
us it was our challenge and this is our
us it was our challenge and this is our first prototype suit that we created to
first prototype suit that we created to
first prototype suit that we created to really explore the potential
really explore the potential
really explore the potential relationships between the body and the
relationships between the body and the
relationships between the body and the algae for instance the algae can absorb
algae for instance the algae can absorb
algae for instance the algae can absorb the carbon dioxide from our breath and
the carbon dioxide from our breath and
the carbon dioxide from our breath and in return suppliers with oxygen and then
in return suppliers with oxygen and then
in return suppliers with oxygen and then also the suit allows us to harvest that
also the suit allows us to harvest that
also the suit allows us to harvest that Algy to create food when we created this
Algy to create food when we created this
Algy to create food when we created this Tsubasa suit we quickly realized we need
Tsubasa suit we quickly realized we need
Tsubasa suit we quickly realized we need to reimagine ourselves in this Alka
to reimagine ourselves in this Alka
to reimagine ourselves in this Alka culture award the moment you wake up in
culture award the moment you wake up in
culture award the moment you wake up in the morning perhaps your bed doesn’t
the morning perhaps your bed doesn’t
the morning perhaps your bed doesn’t look like your bed anymore to where your
look like your bed anymore to where your
look like your bed anymore to where your house will be situated maybe near the
house will be situated maybe near the
house will be situated maybe near the water
water
water maybe we need to redesign our city
maybe we need to redesign our city
maybe we need to redesign our city completely to follow the journey of the
completely to follow the journey of the
completely to follow the journey of the Sun and then we were looking for the
Sun and then we were looking for the
Sun and then we were looking for the perfect body to power our suits and we
perfect body to power our suits and we
perfect body to power our suits and we turned to the opera singer for the
turned to the opera singer for the
turned to the opera singer for the amazing lung capacity in the controlled
amazing lung capacity in the controlled
amazing lung capacity in the controlled breath and the same time we were really
breath and the same time we were really
breath and the same time we were really inspired by research by Professor
inspired by research by Professor
inspired by research by Professor Charles Spence on the sonic enhancement
Charles Spence on the sonic enhancement
Charles Spence on the sonic enhancement of taste which added an extra input into
of taste which added an extra input into
of taste which added an extra input into the project and we collaborated with
the project and we collaborated with
the project and we collaborated with composer Mark Matt Rogers to work on a
composer Mark Matt Rogers to work on a
composer Mark Matt Rogers to work on a new score for the algae opera that used
new score for the algae opera that used
new score for the algae opera that used some of these techniques of the sonic
some of these techniques of the sonic
some of these techniques of the sonic enhancement of taste and here you can
enhancement of taste and here you can
enhancement of taste and here you can see a chef harvesting the algae produced
see a chef harvesting the algae produced
see a chef harvesting the algae produced from the suit from the algae absorbing
from the suit from the algae absorbing
from the suit from the algae absorbing the breath of the singer that algae is
the breath of the singer that algae is
the breath of the singer that algae is there made into sushi to feed back to
there made into sushi to feed back to
there made into sushi to feed back to the audience and as the audience is
the audience and as the audience is
the audience and as the audience is eating and listening to the song her
eating and listening to the song her
eating and listening to the song her song
song
song heightening your bittersweet taste
heightening your bittersweet taste
heightening your bittersweet taste perception in the further future the
perception in the further future the
perception in the further future the ultimate aim is how can I I’ll be really
ultimate aim is how can I I’ll be really
ultimate aim is how can I I’ll be really integrate into our bodies and say this
integrate into our bodies and say this
integrate into our bodies and say this is our fervent future vision of how the
is our fervent future vision of how the
is our fervent future vision of how the human super organism is added to with
human super organism is added to with
human super organism is added to with the algae to give us new abilities in
the algae to give us new abilities in
the algae to give us new abilities in making the work we quickly realize we’re
making the work we quickly realize we’re
making the work we quickly realize we’re going to have to sacrifice some of our
going to have to sacrifice some of our
going to have to sacrifice some of our traditional food cultures currently but
traditional food cultures currently but
traditional food cultures currently but there is endless possibilities to create
there is endless possibilities to create
there is endless possibilities to create new ones
new ones
new ones this super organism concept doesn’t just
this super organism concept doesn’t just
this super organism concept doesn’t just stop at our odd artwork we also aim to
stop at our odd artwork we also aim to
stop at our odd artwork we also aim to work in a superorganism way this
work in a superorganism way this
work in a superorganism way this inspiration came when we collaborated
inspiration came when we collaborated
inspiration came when we collaborated with the team of the scientists working
with the team of the scientists working
with the team of the scientists working on a project called cleaning lung for
on a project called cleaning lung for
on a project called cleaning lung for wealth we were really excited to see
wealth we were really excited to see
wealth we were really excited to see that different technologies science and
that different technologies science and
that different technologies science and disbelief and organisms working together
disbelief and organisms working together
disbelief and organisms working together to create this system which might become
to create this system which might become
to create this system which might become a big leap in human evolution scientists
a big leap in human evolution scientists
a big leap in human evolution scientists were from the background of plant
were from the background of plant
were from the background of plant biologist nanotechnologist synthetic
biologist nanotechnologist synthetic
biologist nanotechnologist synthetic biology bioenergy and the process
biology bioenergy and the process
biology bioenergy and the process intensification so they were looking at
intensification so they were looking at
intensification so they were looking at how to clean the contaminated site like
how to clean the contaminated site like
how to clean the contaminated site like ex mining site they used the plant to
ex mining site they used the plant to
ex mining site they used the plant to absorb the contaminating metals like
absorb the contaminating metals like
absorb the contaminating metals like arsenic out of the land and then harvest
arsenic out of the land and then harvest
arsenic out of the land and then harvest the plant and feed to engineered
the plant and feed to engineered
the plant and feed to engineered bacteria this engineered bacteria has
bacteria this engineered bacteria has
bacteria this engineered bacteria has ability to extract out the contaminating
ability to extract out the contaminating
ability to extract out the contaminating metals and convert into nano form once
metals and convert into nano form once
metals and convert into nano form once it the metals are in nano form then it
it the metals are in nano form then it
it the metals are in nano form then it becomes suddenly useful for humans like
becomes suddenly useful for humans like
becomes suddenly useful for humans like being catalysts for hydrogen fuel-cell
being catalysts for hydrogen fuel-cell
being catalysts for hydrogen fuel-cell they were making this thing as a
they were making this thing as a
they were making this thing as a circular economy to sustain by itself
circular economy to sustain by itself
circular economy to sustain by itself but for us it was really excited to see
but for us it was really excited to see
but for us it was really excited to see that it’s erasing the mistakes of the
that it’s erasing the mistakes of the
that it’s erasing the mistakes of the past it was from here the erasing
past it was from here the erasing
past it was from here the erasing mistakes of the past that we were
mistakes of the past that we were
mistakes of the past that we were inspired to imagine okay so we’ve got
inspired to imagine okay so we’ve got
inspired to imagine okay so we’ve got this clean land and we don’t want to
this clean land and we don’t want to
this clean land and we don’t want to make
make
make mistakes again so what are the new ways
mistakes again so what are the new ways
mistakes again so what are the new ways that we can relate to how we extract
that we can relate to how we extract
that we can relate to how we extract resources from the environment and how
resources from the environment and how
resources from the environment and how we could be in the world around us so we
we could be in the world around us so we
we could be in the world around us so we formed a concept that’s called the
formed a concept that’s called the
formed a concept that’s called the transformer sphere and we used it to
transformer sphere and we used it to
transformer sphere and we used it to navigate all of the different individual
navigate all of the different individual
navigate all of the different individual technologies that the scientists were
technologies that the scientists were
technologies that the scientists were using and also to get a grip on the
using and also to get a grip on the
using and also to get a grip on the sense of scales that they were using so
sense of scales that they were using so
sense of scales that they were using so it ran from the Nano the very small to
it ran from the Nano the very small to
it ran from the Nano the very small to the planetary level and in terms of
the planetary level and in terms of
the planetary level and in terms of timescales that were talking about the
timescales that were talking about the
timescales that were talking about the past and the future and for us the
past and the future and for us the
past and the future and for us the transformer sphere then enabled us to
transformer sphere then enabled us to
transformer sphere then enabled us to really critically engage with what are
really critically engage with what are
really critically engage with what are the consequences of when all of these
the consequences of when all of these
the consequences of when all of these individual technologies come together
individual technologies come together
individual technologies come together into a whole but also a space for us to
into a whole but also a space for us to
into a whole but also a space for us to imagine how we can do things differently
imagine how we can do things differently
imagine how we can do things differently how we can act differently in the
how we can act differently in the
how we can act differently in the environment and to make things but also
environment and to make things but also
environment and to make things but also any way of being for us so how can we
any way of being for us so how can we
any way of being for us so how can we live differently not to make same
live differently not to make same
live differently not to make same mistakes again
mistakes again
mistakes again how can we extend our human ability to
how can we extend our human ability to
how can we extend our human ability to be able to thrive in this contaminated
be able to thrive in this contaminated
be able to thrive in this contaminated world this led to our current project
world this led to our current project
world this led to our current project for the landscape within and we were so
for the landscape within and we were so
for the landscape within and we were so excited to see the ability of this
excited to see the ability of this
excited to see the ability of this engineered bacteria which can extract
engineered bacteria which can extract
engineered bacteria which can extract out the contaminated metals such as
out the contaminated metals such as
out the contaminated metals such as arsenic and platinum and converts into
arsenic and platinum and converts into
arsenic and platinum and converts into this nano metals and these are the
this nano metals and these are the
this nano metals and these are the developed by hosts for lab at the
developed by hosts for lab at the
developed by hosts for lab at the University of Edinburgh we also wanted
University of Edinburgh we also wanted
University of Edinburgh we also wanted to learn what is the effect of the
to learn what is the effect of the
to learn what is the effect of the contaminating heavy metals so he we
contaminating heavy metals so he we
contaminating heavy metals so he we invited dr. Susan Hudson the
invited dr. Susan Hudson the
invited dr. Susan Hudson the environmental epidemiologist at Imperial
environmental epidemiologist at Imperial
environmental epidemiologist at Imperial College London who investigates the
College London who investigates the
College London who investigates the health effects of heavy metal
health effects of heavy metal
health effects of heavy metal contamination with the workshop with her
contamination with the workshop with her
contamination with the workshop with her we learned that the these contaminating
we learned that the these contaminating
we learned that the these contaminating metals can affect our body but also our
metals can affect our body but also our
metals can affect our body but also our mind
mind
mind for example the long-term exposure of
for example the long-term exposure of
for example the long-term exposure of arsenic can causes cancer the mercury
arsenic can causes cancer the mercury
arsenic can causes cancer the mercury can affect the neurological development
can affect the neurological development
can affect the neurological development of the fetus and finally lead can lower
of the fetus and finally lead can lower
of the fetus and finally lead can lower our IQ level so once we started to learn
our IQ level so once we started to learn
our IQ level so once we started to learn about the health effects of these heavy
about the health effects of these heavy
about the health effects of these heavy metals in our contaminated land it
metals in our contaminated land it
metals in our contaminated land it really for us redefined the boundaries
really for us redefined the boundaries
really for us redefined the boundaries of the body in the landscape and when we
of the body in the landscape and when we
of the body in the landscape and when we imagine there and see the guts it really
imagine there and see the guts it really
imagine there and see the guts it really is a tube of in our body inviting the
is a tube of in our body inviting the
is a tube of in our body inviting the external landscape into our internal
external landscape into our internal
external landscape into our internal landscape through foods and we started
landscape through foods and we started
landscape through foods and we started with two food plants that are important
with two food plants that are important
with two food plants that are important to us culturally the rice plant that has
to us culturally the rice plant that has
to us culturally the rice plant that has an amazing ability to absorb arsenic
an amazing ability to absorb arsenic
an amazing ability to absorb arsenic from contaminated land and wheat
from contaminated land and wheat
from contaminated land and wheat similarly can absorb lead and when we
similarly can absorb lead and when we
similarly can absorb lead and when we think about these contamination ones
think about these contamination ones
think about these contamination ones waste and we think we throw away the
waste and we think we throw away the
waste and we think we throw away the waste it’s never really away it can come
waste it’s never really away it can come
waste it’s never really away it can come back to us at some point we witness this
back to us at some point we witness this
back to us at some point we witness this in a supermarket where foods are sourced
in a supermarket where foods are sourced
in a supermarket where foods are sourced on a global scale for example fish fish
on a global scale for example fish fish
on a global scale for example fish fish some of the fish travels all over the
some of the fish travels all over the
some of the fish travels all over the world exposing themselves to the
world exposing themselves to the
world exposing themselves to the contaminating mercury and then it can
contaminating mercury and then it can
contaminating mercury and then it can come back to our dining table we’re
come back to our dining table we’re
come back to our dining table we’re really living in the borderless world
really living in the borderless world
really living in the borderless world yeah through a borderless world but also
yeah through a borderless world but also
yeah through a borderless world but also we live in the Anthropocene era an era
we live in the Anthropocene era an era
we live in the Anthropocene era an era that’s been remade by humans and
that’s been remade by humans and
that’s been remade by humans and literally remaking the soil beneath our
literally remaking the soil beneath our
literally remaking the soil beneath our feet and so an important question that
feet and so an important question that
feet and so an important question that we asked ourselves in the landscape of
we asked ourselves in the landscape of
we asked ourselves in the landscape of in project was if there is no escape
in project was if there is no escape
in project was if there is no escape from the contaminated world how can we
from the contaminated world how can we
from the contaminated world how can we adapt to live in a world of our making
adapt to live in a world of our making
adapt to live in a world of our making so we created this external digestive
so we created this external digestive
so we created this external digestive machine which can extract out the heavy
machine which can extract out the heavy
machine which can extract out the heavy metal contamination out of our fruit we
metal contamination out of our fruit we
metal contamination out of our fruit we using this horse for labs engineered
using this horse for labs engineered
using this horse for labs engineered bacteria in this case we’re using rice
bacteria in this case we’re using rice
bacteria in this case we’re using rice and this bacteria will be extracting out
and this bacteria will be extracting out
and this bacteria will be extracting out the arsenic from our rice which creating
the arsenic from our rice which creating
the arsenic from our rice which creating safer food to eat but why stop there
safer food to eat but why stop there
safer food to eat but why stop there because we’re using technology in this
because we’re using technology in this
because we’re using technology in this case and engineer bacteria to mediate
case and engineer bacteria to mediate
case and engineer bacteria to mediate between body food and landscape there’s
between body food and landscape there’s
between body food and landscape there’s new potentials and so for us we inserted
new potentials and so for us we inserted
new potentials and so for us we inserted fluorescent red genes into the bacteria
fluorescent red genes into the bacteria
fluorescent red genes into the bacteria so our food could potentially tell us if
so our food could potentially tell us if
so our food could potentially tell us if it’s safe or not to eat creating new
it’s safe or not to eat creating new
it’s safe or not to eat creating new dining experiences of eating in the dark
dining experiences of eating in the dark
dining experiences of eating in the dark and then for the further future we
and then for the further future we
and then for the further future we reimagined ourselves to have organ which
reimagined ourselves to have organ which
reimagined ourselves to have organ which contains these engineered bacteria which
contains these engineered bacteria which
contains these engineered bacteria which is cleaning out the co heavy metal
is cleaning out the co heavy metal
is cleaning out the co heavy metal contamination from our body but also it
contamination from our body but also it
contamination from our body but also it allows us to mind our body to create the
allows us to mind our body to create the
allows us to mind our body to create the new material for the future so to sum up
new material for the future so to sum up
new material for the future so to sum up and return back to our opening questions
and return back to our opening questions
and return back to our opening questions so who are we well as a human super
so who are we well as a human super
so who are we well as a human super organism we are a collaboration and a
organism we are a collaboration and a
organism we are a collaboration and a collaboration of different organisms
collaboration of different organisms
collaboration of different organisms different technologies as people were
different technologies as people were
different technologies as people were elaboration with different people with
elaboration with different people with
elaboration with different people with different disciplines and different
different disciplines and different
different disciplines and different backgrounds but who or what will we be
backgrounds but who or what will we be
backgrounds but who or what will we be in the future with the Transformers for
in the future with the Transformers for
in the future with the Transformers for your idea we create this space for
your idea we create this space for
your idea we create this space for everyone to join exploration for endless
everyone to join exploration for endless
everyone to join exploration for endless possibilities human can evolve into
possibilities human can evolve into
possibilities human can evolve into which can change according to our dreams
which can change according to our dreams
which can change according to our dreams and desires and it might ask us to
and desires and it might ask us to
and desires and it might ask us to sacrifice some of our humanness however
sacrifice some of our humanness however
sacrifice some of our humanness however is it sacrificing our humaneness or is
is it sacrificing our humaneness or is
is it sacrificing our humaneness or is it just asking us to redefine what it is
it just asking us to redefine what it is
it just asking us to redefine what it is to be human
to be human
to be human thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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