Specimens and Superhumans

A copy of a press release just received.

Specimens to Superhumans is a series of events curated by The Arts Catalyst and Shape exploring contemporary issues around biomedical science, disability and ethics, and how these are explored, represented and critiqued in art.

The events provide creative opportunities to show the work of and to provide mentoring, development and networking opportunities for disabled artists. The series hopes to identify and nurture artists who could participate in future programmes, with the long-term aim of commissioning a series of new artists’ projects.

Labyrinth of Living Exhibits, Hunterian Museum, London 12 May 2011

Bye Bye Kitty!!!-Between Heaven and Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art

The "SP Extra: Malformed Noh-Mask Series Half Skeleton’s Twins: Tosaka", (2008) is series of works by Motohiko Odani exhibited at the Bye Bye Kitty!!!-Between Heaven and Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art exhibition, launched a few days before in NY's Japan Society.

In light of the recent tragedy in Japan a number of related programs are taking place in conjunction with the exhibition. The donation of 50 percent of all ticket sales to aid victims of the devastation announced and the organization’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund has already raised over $500,000; you can also contribute directly by making an online donation.

What is also striking regarding the interests of this blog, is the inextricable relation of disability aesthetics and the ways that devastating disasters get into the realm of aesthetics (although this is might not be a very clear example). The relation of disability aesthetics and the introduction of any disaster into an analysis of its aesthetic impact seems to be one of the most controversial subject matters of disability aesthetics and needs a lot more close and careful examination or study.