可能 In Posse
2021
雙頻道錄像裝置 Two channel installation
尺寸依場地而定 Dimensions variable
我們看到寶寶第一個問題是，「是男生還是女生？」自古以來，這已知的二分法是許多傳統家庭、政治、文化和醫學觀念的基礎，支持著人類發展史中主流的父權價值。
人類在21世紀迎來醫學和科技的進步，強化了重新定義身體界線的必要性。我們的肉身成了蛻變、異種交配和魔法發生的場域。其包含的身體部位也不再只屬於我們。我們成為共創與重構的結晶。幹細胞科技、個人化醫療、移植和催生，都促使我們進一步探詢，「人體為何？我們能否定義它？我們是否應該嘗試這麼做？」
過去十年來，藝術家夏洛特．賈維斯持續進行一系列名為《集成》（Corpus）的創作，主要是為人體尋找替代的敘事空間。前兩部分：〈我思故我在〉（Ergo Sum）和〈我也在阿卡迪亞〉（Et In Arcadia Ego），是利用幹細胞研究、遺傳工程學和腫瘤學科技，讓人體介於不同的狀態之間，瓦解場址、使得內容物突變、以及面對不朽與死亡。這些作品使用夏洛特自身的細胞，解構既有的科學流程，以揭示其社會與情感意義。在《集成》的最後一部分，夏洛特和荷蘭萊頓大學的蘇珊娜．舒瓦．德．索薩．羅培茲教授、荷蘭恩荷芬市的MU混種藝術社、斯洛維尼亞盧布爾雅納的卡佩利卡畫廊、科斯尼可瓦學會及英國雪菲爾國際紀錄片影展合作，將自己的身體置於性與性別的交會處。這個作品名為〈可能〉，他們試圖用夏洛特的（女性）細胞來製造精液。
在歷史上，精液被視為神奇的物質，一個字面上和意義上都象徵著權威的圖騰。父權社會對精液有各式不同的描繪，例如生命力、靈魂物質、微量大腦、與十滴血等質的神聖物質，並扮演在女性靈魂中播下美德的種籽。〈可能〉目的在改寫其文化敘事，並用藝術和科學瓦解階級制度。
這個計畫分成三個部分：首先，夏洛特和蘇珊娜用夏洛特的身體來培育出精蟲，同時夏洛特也培養了女性型式的精漿（精液的液體部分），最後她以此重現古希臘的地母節（Thesmophoria）（此計畫的創意脈絡）。夏洛特在發展〈可能〉作品細節時，經歷了懷孕、分娩，成為一位母親。〈可能〉創作至今試圖結合創作過程與前述經歷。作品同時也作為某種宣言，一種理論性的自傳、思想地圖，更是此計畫在創意、科學、倫理及個人立場的回顧。
It is the first question we ask about a baby – Is it a boy or a girl? Historically, the upmost importance has been placed on this perceived dichotomy. It is the basis of many traditional notions of family, politics, culture and medicine, underpinning the patriarchal and normative societies that have dominated human history.
Yet, in the 21st century, advances in science and technology necessitate a reimagining of our physical boundaries. Our bodies have become sites for transformation, hybridization and magic. Our parts no longer belong to us. We are co-created and reimagined. Stem cell technology, personalized medicine, transplantation and augmentation compel us to ask what is a human body? Can we define it? Should we try?
Over the past decade artist Charlotte Jarvis has been working on a series of pieces collectively titled Corpus, which aim to find alternative spaces of discourse for the human body. The first two parts, Ergo Sum and Et In Arcadia Ego, used stem cell research, genetic engineering and oncological technologies to place the body in between states – disrupting the site, mutating the contents, and confronting im/mortality.
These pieces used Charlotte’s own cells to decontextualize existing scientific processes in order to reveal their social and emotional meaning. In this, the third and final part of Corpus Charlotte is collaborating with Prof Susana Chuva de Sousal Lopes in Leiden, MU Hybrid Art House in Eindhoven, Kapelica Gallery / Kersnikova Institute in Ljubljana and Sheffield Documentary Festival to place her body at the intersection of sex and gender. The piece is called In Posse and they are attempting to make semen from Charlotte’s (“female”) cells.
Throughout history, semen has been revered as a magical substance – a totem of literal and symbolic potency. Patriarchal societies have described semen variously as life force, substance of the soul, a drop of the brain, divine, equal to ten drops of blood and that which sows the seeds of virtue in the female soul. In Posse aims to rewrite this cultural narrative; to use art and science to disrupt the hierarchy.
The project is being developed in three parts – firstly, Charlotte and Susana are on a journey to grow spermatozoa (sperm cells) from Charlotte’s body. At the same time, Charlotte has developed a female form of seminal plasma (the fluid part of semen). Finally, she is re-enacting the ancient Greek festival of Thesmophoria (a creative contextualization of the project). At the same time as Charlotte has been developing these strands of In Posse, she has been pregnant, experienced labor and become a mother. The latest iteration of In Posse is, to some degree, an attempt to reconcile these experiences with the process of making the project. It is also a manifesto of sorts, a kind of theoretical autobiography or map of her thoughts, and a review of where the project stands creatively, scientifically, ethically and personally.
夏洛特．賈維斯
夏洛特．賈維斯的創作交織著藝術和科學，其創作經常使用活細胞和DNA，例如：她培養了自己的腫瘤、將音樂記錄在DNA裡、從體外觀測自己的心跳。她曾舉辦12場國際個展並參加上百場聯展，亦曾在英國的維多利亞與亞伯特博物館、斯洛維尼亞的卡佩利卡藝廊、中國的廣東美術館和義大利的威尼斯雙年展展出。夏洛特是歐洲生物資訊研究所、荷蘭蛋白質組學中心和烏德勒支研究所的駐村藝術家，並曾獲得荷蘭的生物藝術與設計獎、受英國雪菲爾國際紀錄片影展的平行時空計畫委任創作，也在里奧納多期刊發表過同儕審閱的文章。夏洛特目前在英國皇家藝術學院擔任講師，同時在英國文化協會種子資金補助的ABYME擔任駐村藝術家。
Charlotte Jarvis
Charlotte Jarvis is an artist working at the intersection of art and science. Charlotte’s practice often utilizes living cells and DNA: she has grown her own tumor, recorded music onto DNA and seen her heart beat outside her body. Charlotte has exhibited her work in twelve international solo shows and over one hundred group exhibitions in spaces such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in the UK, Kapelica Gallery in Slovenia, Guangdong Museum of Art in China and at The Venice Biennale in Italy. Charlotte has been resident artist at the European Bioinformatics Institute, The Netherlands Proteomics Center and the Hubrecht Institute. She has won the Netherlands Bio Art and Design Award, The Alternate Realities commission in the UK and been peer-review published in Leonardo Journal. Charlotte is currently a lecturer at the Royal College of Art and resident artist at ABYME supported by seed funding from the British Council.