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Stelarc (Stelios Arcadiou, born in Cyprus in 1946) is a performance artist raised in Australia, whose works focus heavily on extending the capabilities of the human body. His performances often involve robotics or other relatively modern technology integrated with his body. He has performed all over the world since the 1960s.

Stelarc explores alternate anatomical architectures, interrogating issues of embodiment, agency, identity and the posthuman. As such, most of his pieces are centered on his concept that "the human body is obsolete".

“We fear what we have always been and what we have already become – zombies and cyborgs. The body has already become a prosthetic body, augmented and increasingly automated. What it means to be human is perhaps not to remain human at all”, states Stelarc.

Until 2007 he held the position of Principal Research Fellow at Nottingham Trent University in England. He is currently furthering his research at Curtin University in Western Australia. In 2010 Stelarc was awarded the Ars Electronica Hybrid Arts Prize. In 2015 he received the Australia Council’s Emerging and Experimental Arts Award.

Stelarc's visit to Helsinki is supported by LAPS, MAECP, KuvA, Aalto University, Bioart Society and Taiteen edistämiskeskus.

The presentation and discussion group will be held in English. The event is public and no prior registration is required.

Date: 12 April, 2018 at 13:30–16:00

Venue: B-Hall (2nd floor) Otakaari 1, Otaniemi, Espoo