Sunday, February 05, 2006

Endoscopy as art?

Nothing like exploring someone's gut for an afternoon's entertainment...

From the blurb:

'The fascinating capsule endoscopy procedure is a completely new technology, for the first time enabling the photographing of the GI passage in its entirety. In a two-part performative demonstration, artist Phillip Warnell will undergo a live capsule endoscopy medical procedure, integrating projected visual material from his project, Host, which makes use of raw material gathered in this way. In part one, and following a period of preparatory fasting, Warnell will ingest an untethered pill sized camera, which will embark on a fantastic voyage through the nine-metre gastro-intestinal tract. In part two, following a period of waiting whilst the capsule progresses via the bodies peristaltic, muscular contractions, the camera’s radio transmissions will be downloaded to a drive and viewed/interpreted by Gastroenterologist Simon Anderson through a unique software interface. '

The project is called ENDO ECTO. It's on 10 February 2006, 3 - 8 pmNash Room, ICA, The Mall, London SW1. Booking essential, limited numbers. £6.00, £4.00 ICAA members
Tickets: 020 7375 3690

Also on at the ICA until 10 February, is a project by MA Birkbeck students called 'The Body Digital: fantasy and function'.

2 comments:

aj said...

Not at all sure about this. I think it's great that procedures can be made more accessible, but the thinly concealed exhibitionism here is off-putting. Lets be honest, however bad these procedures are, they won't be remembered as patients are sedated, and being alone with a care of healthcare professionals takes away a great deal of the embarrassment (e.g. with a colonoscopy).

I'm not quite sure what the motives are here, which is what makes me uneasy. Certainly the 'fascinating voyage' serves to put a spin on what is basically voyeuristic ogle at faecoliths.

If anyone goes I'd love to hear what it's like.

Alice said...

that sounds amazing! I have a scary number of friends with gut issues, I'm sure they'd be fascinated.