Output details

Truth Serum

Originality

Research for 'Sk-Interface' Creating Membranes in Art, Technology and Society’ (Human Futures Prgramme; Liverpool City of Culture 2008), explored International artist’s use of biotechnology. FACT and the Arts Catalyst awarded funding to White who acted as PI on research with anthropologist Dr Nicolas Langlitz of Max-Planck Institute, Berlin. Examining security issues of the state when bound by perpetual conflict, research questioned public belief in; Truth Serums, interrogation and human rights and arts political role.

Rigour

Detailed historical was undertaken into truth serums and practice-led research drew on former research into self-experimentation with National Institute for Medical Research (2004-5, submitted RAE 2008). This led to an iterated experimental methodology including; 1) A gallery-based installation consisting of two rooms, multiple videos and audio, 2) A catalogue essay ‘The Psychopharmacology of Truthfulness’ (Langlitz 2008) and, 3) An offsite experimental performance with custom software based on ‘stroop’ testing. The research allowed a participatory dialogue in the ethics of torture techniques being justified by western governments and ethical control of clinical experiments that use human subjects.

Significance

Sk-interface included Internatonal artists working in this area; CAE, Symbiotica, Kac, Orlan, Stelarc, Vanouse etc. Casino Foundation in Luxembourg commissioned installation of research materials documented in the live experiment. Langlitz and White gave a joint paper ‘Truth Serum Threat’, at Human Futures Conference, FACT supported by Goethe Institut and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Truth Serum featured in Thames and Hudson World of Art Series ‘The Body in Contemporary Art’ (O’Reilly, S, 2010 p199-200) and ‘Sk-Interfaces’ was profiled in media such as the online blog: we-make-money-not-art. Sk-interfaces was FACT most successful exhibition at close in March 2008 (22,000 visitors) and was supported by American Center Foundation, Casino Luxembourg Forum d’Art Contemporain, Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, UKCTE University of Liverpool, SymbioticA / University of Western Australia.