The Plasticity of Flesh and Bone: Transforming the Body Through Somaesthetic Experience

This paper explores how the human mechanisms of gene expression may be used in novel artistic practices which use the human body as material. Examining historical examples of artists who use the body as material along with popular culture body modification practices, epigenetic transformations are put forward as a method to be explored in new forms of artistic practice. Examples of speculative fiction, works of architecture and psychotherapeutic devices are investigated towards outlining a direction for such a practice.