The Prospect of Immortality at Impressions Gallery, Bradford, UK from 10th June to 17th September 2011
Introductory text:
Over the past five years, Murray Ballard has gained unprecedented access into the world of cryonics: the process of freezing a person after death in the hope that scientific advances may one day be able to bring them back to life.
The Prospect of Immortality takes us on a journey through the tiny yet dedicated international cryonics community; from the retirement town of Peacehaven, England to the high-tech laboratories in Arizona, United States, through to the rudimentary facilities on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia. Approximately one hundred and fifty people worldwide are currently suspended in liquid nitrogen, with a further thousand signed up for the process after they die.
Images of the technical processes involved are presented alongside portraits of the people engaged in the quest to overcome the ‘problem’ of death. Often ridiculed for their views, Ballard’s work aims to present an objective investigation that allows us to reflect on the ethics of cryonics, and consider whether this is a fantasy world of science fiction, or genuine scientific innovation.
To find out more, use the smartphone-activated QR tags to listen directly to the people involved, and download short texts that may challenge or confirm your assumptions about cryonics.
