Exploring boundaries by piercing barriers

Jalila Essaïdi will be giving this talk virtually to a live audience. Seats are limited and are only open to VCUarts Qatar or Education city students, faculty, or alumni. In-person attendees must follow VCUarts Qatar guidelines related to COVID-19.

• 7th March 2022, 2 PM – 3 PM
• Atrium
• Upon Registration Only

An artist talk with Jalila Essa di presented in three chapters: Chapter 1 reflects on the project ‘2.6g 329m/s’ a project where in vitro bulletproof human skin was created as an art project. Jalila will talk about how art can probe the duality of safety and the applications of new forms of biotechnology.

Chapter 2 discusses project ‘mestic’, creating plastics, textiles, and paper from cow manure. Continuing from the genetically modified goats of the bulletproof skin project and diving into the global problem of excess manure from intensive animal farming the artist will explain how a disgusting problem can hold the solution to two of the world’s most polluting industries: intensive farming and the textile industry.

And Chapter 3 is about the national development institute for the biological arts: BioArt Laboratories. Countless requests from artists, designers, and people in general (about best practices when working at the crossover of multiple domains) drove Jalila Essaidi to initiate the BioArt Laboratories foundation. A development institute that explores the possibility of combining culture, entrepreneurship, and nature together in a symbiotic relationship. Using project Tree-Antenna as a specific example.

This event is an in-person event for the VCUarts Qatar community only that will be streamed live. Members of the public are welcome to ask questions in a moderated chat, at the end of each session.