Science Gallery Dublin will today launch the exhibition HUMAN+: THE FUTURE OF OUR SPECIES in Barcelona, as a co-production with the Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB).

First presented at Science Gallery Dublin in 2011, HUMAN+ re-emerges as a co-production featuring 35 additional exhibits, accompanied by both a comprehensive event series and new catalogue.

A RECORD NUMBER OF SCIENCE GALLERY EXHIBITIONS WORLDWIDE

HUMAN+ is the latest touring Science Gallery exhibition to open at a venue outside Ireland, and marks a record number of Science Gallery exhibitions open worldwide. The reach of Science Gallery has been extending worldwide through its touring exhibitions for some time, travelling widely in the USA and Asia over the past 4 years. 'ILLUSION' is currently being exhibited at Petrosains in Kuala Lumpur, BIORHYTHM is currently on show in Taiwan, whilst SECRET runs until 1st November at the Dublin gallery.

HUMAN+: THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN SPECIES

Showcasing the work of fifty artists and pioneering research proposals, HUMAN+ explores possible future paths for our species by considering both historical and emerging technologies, as well as their cultural and ethical contexts. What does it mean to be human today? From assisted reproductive technologies to human digital remains, our lives are mediated and defined by our tools and scientific discoveries. HUMAN+ is not a blind celebration of technology, but explores a range of imagined and real possibilities, allowing visitors to make up their own mind about the preferred future of the human species.

Cyborgs, superhumans and clones. Evolution or extinction? What will it feel like to be human a hundred years from now? Technological capabilities are increasing at a rapid pace — should we continue to embrace modifications to our minds, bodies and daily lives, or are there boundaries we shouldn’t overstep?

*Above: Agatha Haines - Transfigurations*

The 21st century will be characterised by the confluence of fields such as biotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence. Manipulating biological processes, controlling digital and mechanical machines and creating non-biological intelligence above and beyond what humans can comprehend — all these advances raise ethical questions about the appropriation of life and the alteration of the self. HUMAN+ offers an in-depth exploration of the scientific, ethical and legal boundaries of these possible futures.

Above: Lorenz Potthast - Decelerator Helmet — *Above:* *Lorenz Potthast - Decelerator Helmet*

From subtle provocations to grand gestures, the artworks in this exhibition consider how these changes might be adopted and assimilated. The value in speculation is not prediction, but reflection. What are we striving for? We are designing our future, consciously or not, and every creator, whatever their discipline, will play a part in this process.

Artists and projects in HUMAN+:

Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby, Addie Wagenknecht, Arne Hendriks, Liam Young, Agatha Haines, The Center for PostNatural History, Regina José Galindo, Laura Allcorn, Bryan Lewis Saunders, Ramon Guillén-Balmes, Marc Owens, Lorenz Potthast, Chris Woebken and Kenichi Okada, The Alternative Limb Project (Sophie de OIiveira Barata), DIY Bio Bcn, Niko von Glasow, Jacob Peter Gowy, S.W.A.M.P. (Matt Kenyon), Nina Sellars, Cyborg Foundation (Neil Harbisson and Moon Ribas), Cao Fei, Howard Schatz, Julijonas Urbonas, To Be Another Lab, Heidi Kumao, Louis-Philippe Demers, Yves Gellie, Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Zoe Papadopoulou and Anna Smajdor, EventLab for Neuroscience and Technology, Tissue Culture and Art Project (Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr), James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau, Jaemin Paik.

HUMAN+ Executive curator:

Cathrine Kramer

HUMAN+ Curatorial team:

Dra. Juliana Adelman,Trinity Long Room Hub; Dra. Rachel Armstrong, interdisciplinary researcher; Dr. Michael John Gorman, Science Gallery; Dr. Aoife McLysaght, Trinity College Dublin; Dr. Ross McManus, Trinity School of Medicine; Prof. Richard Reilly, Trinity College Dublin; Prof. Charles Spillane, National University Ireland Galway

Local advisor:

Ricard Solé

LISTINGS INFORMATION

What: HUMAN+: THE FUTURE OF OUR SPECIES

Where: CCCB, Montalegre, 5 - 08001 Barcelona, Spain.

When: 07.10.15 - 10.04.16

Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm. Closed Monday, except public holidays.

More information: cccb.org/en/exhibitions/

A full press pack with details of the exhibits and the events programme can be found at this link.

Science Gallery launches biggest-ever exhibition at leading European cultural centre CCCB

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