- DATE : 18/09/2025 18/09/2025
- TIME : 17:15–18:15
- VENUE : Hunter Lecture Theatre, 74 Lauriston Place
2025 Spotlight Taiwan Lecture
Challenge Biomedical Paradigm Through Art and Design
by Kuang-Yi KU (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University)
In this talk, artist and designer Kuang-Yi Ku will present a selection of bio-art and speculative design projects developed in collaboration with scientists and medical professionals. His work explores themes of the human body, sexuality, interspecies interactions, and medical technology, examining the complex relationships between technology, individuals, and the environment. By challenging established medical dogmas, Ku expands our perspectives and inspires new possibilities in medical technology. His projects also expose the ethical controversies surrounding biomedical advancements, creating platforms for public debate. As cultural probes, his works encourage critical reflection on contemporary society and open pathways to envision possible futures.
About the Speaker
Kuang-Yi KU lives and works both in Taiwan and the Netherlands. He is an assistant professor at the Institute of Applied Art at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan and a tutor in MA, Social Design at Design Academy Eindhoven. He is also doing his Ph.D. research at Sheffield Hallam University, UK and the research topic is the interdisciplinary practice between art, design, and bioscience. He has graduated with triple master’s degrees in social design from Design Academy Eindhoven, dentistry from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and communication design from Shih Chien University. He is a former dentist, bio-artist, and speculative designer. He also co-founded TW BioArt (Taiwan bioart community) to stimulate the fields of BioArt and Science+Art in Taiwan. His works often deal with the human body, sexuality, interspecies interaction, and medical technology, aiming to investigate the relationships among technology, individuals and the environment.
Kuang-Yi Ku won Bio Art & Design Award 2022 and Core77 Speculative Design Award 2023 for the project “Atlas of Queer Anatomy”. His “Tiger Penis Project” has been awarded Gijs Bakker Award 2018, the annual prize for the best project by a graduating master’s student in Design Academy Eindhoven. He also won the 1st prize in the Taipei Digital Art Awards in 2015 with “The Fellatio Modification Project”, where he involves body modification, gender studies, queer theories, and dentistry all together. His works were featured in international media such as New Scientist, The Huffington Post, Elephant Magazine, DAMN° Magazine, Dezeen, Designboom, VICE, Dazed Digital, Daily Mail, New York Post, and so on.
Kuang-Yi KU: https://www.kukuangyi.com/