THE HYMNEXT PROJECT (2004 - 2009)
Breaking down barriers in sexuality & body politics
My cells are in the sculptures because I wanted myself to be new art media.
In each sculpture, my DNA is a personal signature. Replacement hymens confront cultural and traditional functions of the thin membrane. The act of reproducing my vaginal cells gestures toward the one-time occurrence and breakage of the biologically virginal hymen. The hymen is neither inside nor outside the vaginal canal. In philosophy, “hymen” is a stance in between two discursive positions, without tendency to one side. In biological and philosophical modalities, I am, like the hymen, in between the artistic and scientific disciplines. The resulting art pieces are a conjuration of new symbols to encourage discussion about scientific research and body politics.
The tissue cultured sculptures comment on modern sexuality as a confrontation to the traditional roles of the female body, presented as a collection of synthesized hymens made from the artist’s own body cells with human and animal skin cells. The sculptures are symbolic gifts of virginity in a reciprocal gesture between lovers. Between the art and science fields, the hymens represent a renewed collaboration.
Artworks have been showcased at international contemporary art exhibitions and featured in numerous publications and radio programs, including Aesthetics of Care? (Biennale of Electronic Arts, Perth, 2002), Arts and Biotechnologies (Groupe de Recherche en Arts Mediatiques, Montreal, 2004), WPS1 Radio (The Museum of Contemporary Art, New York, 2004), Radio Netherlands (the Netherlands, 2005), Biocultures Manifesto (New Literary History Magazine, Maryland, 2007) and Sk-Interfaces (Liverpool, 2008). Roedica’s The hymNext Project was exhibited at the Contemporary Artist Center (North Adams, 2005), the New York Academy of Sciences (New York, 2005), the Capsula Gallery (Barcelona, 2007), the Foundation for Art and Contemporary Technology (Liverpool, UK, 2008) and the Cooper Gallery (Scotland, UK, 2008). See below for more articles and images.