Neil Harbisson

Tuesday 20 February 2024 5:30pm-8:00pm

5:30pm - Drinks in the foyer
6:15pm - Auditorium opens to take your seats
6:30pm - Talk starts

Booking is essential as places are limited.

Location: Leeds Arts University, Blenheim Walk, Leeds LS2 9AQ

Join us at Leeds Arts University to hear from Neil Harbisson, Cyborg Artist, who will explore the possibilities of biological and technological evolution within art, and how his artwork has been informed and influenced by 'becoming technology'.

Creative Networks is Leeds Arts University's own major professional events programme. It’s a fantastic chance to meet other professionals and hear fascinating talks from industry leading speakers.

A Catalan-raised, British-born contemporary artist and cyborg activist best known for having an antenna implanted in his skull and for being officially recognised as a cyborg by a government. The antenna allows him to perceive visible and invisible colours via audible vibrations in his skull including infrareds and ultraviolets as well as receive colours from space, images, videos, music or phone calls directly into his head via internet connection.

Harbisson identifies himself both as a cyborg; he feels he is technology, and as transpecies; he no longer feels 100% human. His artwork explores identity, human perception, the connection between sight and sound and the use of artistic expression via new sensory inputs.

In 2010 he co-founded the Cyborg Foundation with Moon Ribas, an international organisation that aims to help humans become cyborgs, defend cyborg rights and promote cyborg art. In 2017 he co-founded the Transpecies Society, an association that gives voice to people with non-human identities, defends the freedom of self-design and offers the creation of new senses and new organs in community.

This talk explores how taking an active part in our own biological evolution is no longer a theory, but an option. Becoming technology, instead of using or wearing technology, opens up the possibility of having additional organs and senses beyond the ones confined to our species. By merging ourselves with technology we can become the designers of our own body and perception; and we can increase our survival possibilities in earth and in outer space.

Are we witnessing the renaissance of our species?