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Coral Empathy Device – UK premiere

Date
-
Date
Sunday 3 - Saturday 9 June, 2018, 12.00-20.00
Venue
Lady Beck Gallery, 64-67 Mabgate, Leeds LS9 7DZ
Speaker
Kat Austen, artist (Sunday 3 June, 14.00-15.30)
Event
Interactive installation + talk

Our world is warming. The effects are far reaching, for all life forms. Coral reefs, in particular, are being devastated by climate change, with once vibrant marine ecosystems bleached and dying due to rising sea temperatures.

The Priestley International Centre for Climate and University of Leeds Cultural Institute are pleased to present the UK premiere of artist Kat Austen’s Coral Empathy Device, an interactive sculptural sound installation that offers a chance to feel differently – to feel like coral.

This experiment in interspecies empathy explores differences in the way we perceive the world, and translates between a coral’s physical experience in its native marine environment and make its experience understandable to a human in their native terrestrial environment, through an embodied interface.

The installation runs for one week and includes a talk with Kat Austen on Sunday 3 June (14.00-15.30). There will also be an evening drinks event on Tuesday 5 June (17.30 – 20.00) courtesy of the Priestley Society.

PhD student Clare Martynski will be conducting research during this installation, speaking to audience members about their experience. There is no obligation to take part in this research. If you do choose to take part, you will be asked to complete a participant consent form.