We began as a part of the body

We began as part of the body was a practice research project that interrogated the impact of technology and science on the body and human experience and ethical questions concerning these dynamics. It was developed with Professor Sara Brown, in the laboratory at the School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Scotland, and ASCUS Art & Science, Scotland’s first non-profit organisation connecting art and science. The project resulted in a multi-component body of outputs, including: 1. A 6 minute spoken word sound piece. 2. A set of thirty eight 3D printed skin cell models. 3. Three 360 degree photographs. 4. A Mixed Reality (MR) immersive experience for Magic Leap headset. 5. An 8 minute film. 6. An Augmented Reality app for iOS. The project sought to bring together scientific rigour with poetic methods, and make complex genetic research more accessible. It challenged audiences to think critically about science, their role and responsibility within genetic research, and the impact such engagement might have on our understanding of what it means to be human. We began as part of the body extends Hood’s interests in creating sophisticated, experimental and challenging, yet accessible creative research projects that explore the relationship between the body, technology and science, where research, practice and impact are intertwined.