When Anna Bertha Röntgen first glanced at the radiographic picture of her hand she is supposed to have said “I have seen my death!” and refused to take part in any similar experiments. In a brief time however, this new way of seeing the body forever altered the landscape of both popular culture and the visual arts.
This talk explores how X-rays and other medical imaging techniques have had their diagnostic capacity repurposed and subverted, becoming an integral part of experimental artistic practices. It follows a historical trajectory, from the early works of the avant-garde to contemporary interdisciplinary projects and artist residences within imaging facilities. It discusses the interactions between artists and medical practitioners, as well as its impact on viewers of the general public: what changed from the time Mikhail Larionov and Francis Picabia were engaging in explorations of the radiographic gaze? How is the meeting point of art, medical science and technology framed in the works of contemporary artists such as Matthew Cox, Mona Hatoum and Paulina Siniatkina? The talk will also highlight lesser known creations and initiatives from the former Eastern bloc, highlighting X-ray depictions and the medical gaze as part of the state apparatus, through the works of artists such as A.I. Kurnakov, Morozov Anatoly Alekseevich, Obrosov Igor Pavlovich and Levichev Yuri Ivanovich.
Looking Inwards: The Role of Medical Imaging Technology in 20th and 21st Century Visual Art
Tuesday 16 March 1-2pm (UK time) on Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/91441604082
Meeting ID: 914 4160 4082
Passcode: 195522
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