BH KF 123456789abcdeKF12345 The New Immortals exhibition: Bringing science, arts and humanities into dialogue

The New Immortals exhibition at the Phoenix Gallery concluded last month after a series of interdisciplinary events involving local artists and thinkers, including academics from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.Curated by Judith Alder of Eastbourne's Blue Monkey Network, the exhibition ran throughout the month of March and featured the work of ten artists on the theme: '˜exploring immortality in an age of scientific miracles'.Works included etchings from Brighton-based artist Angela Smith; Fleur Alston's mandala-like '˜17 Species of Lichen'; Guyan Porter's intact Neanderthal skull; and Judith Alder's video installation '˜In Praise of Renewal' (featuring the Brighton Festival Chorus).The Phoenix Gallery also hosted the book launch for '˜The Prospect of Immortality', Murray Ballard's six-year photographic study of cryonic freezing facilities in locations as diverse as Arizona, France and Peacehaven; selections from which were shown at the exhibition.With The New Immortals, the Phoenix exhibition space became a seamless wander through Judith Alder's furnished installations of antique cabinets and etchings all the way to the disembodied human of Duncan Poulton's video-tribute to the hyper-real, '˜No Body'.Bridging the gap between vintage and digital was Cat Ingram's installation '˜Wild Tales and Hard Science'; a collage of dated furniture and paraphernalia from such transhumanist pioneers as Aubrey De Grey and Ray Kurzweil '“ resembling something of an underground hideout for science guerrillas.Judith Alder's two-year research project for The New Immortals intended from the start to bring the arts and humanities into the scientific and ethical discussion of immortality.She said: 'My purpose with The New Immortals events series was, above all, to provide opportunities for artists, scientists and members of the public to have meaningful conversations about some of the subjects touched upon in the exhibition. I'm interested in the role of art as a means of exploring complex issues, and the events programme brought together people from a very wide range of backgrounds to talk about some of the issues that are important to them.'Through her salons, conferences and workshops, Judith Alder succeeded in bringing the discourse of science into the creative space; enabling participants to speak from the heart of the human experience, without the imagined barriers between '˜artistic' and '˜academic' disciplines.The bar was set high from the beginning, with the involvement of Professor Matteo Sattin from the University of Brighton's Centre for Regenerative Medicine. Scientists from the centre hosted the The New Immortals' first two '˜Saturday Labs', introducing cutting-edge advances in biomedical science to members of the public.The highlight of the month was '˜Exploring Immortality: Science, Art and Humanities in Conversation' - a full-day symposium co-organised by Judith Alder and Professor Bobbie Farsides of Brighton and Sussex Medical School.The Brighton and Sussex Medical School continue to run regular events on this model '“ for updates visit: bsms.ac.ukFor Judith Alder's latest projects follow For Brighton arts and culture - with a special focus on mixed media arts and interdisciplinary frontiers - follow!