Longevity is a desire as old as humankind. In the near future, we may have numerous ways to slow or even reverse aging, with some in proof-of-concept experiments and others already in human trials. The first anti-aging drugs could arrive within the decade, followed by a procession of therapies. Yet, the exhibition grapples with the social, economic, and cultural implications of longevity. Do we truly wish to live forever? How would society cope with people aged 150 or over? Is there a need to enact the right to die? These questions and more will be explored in this exhibition. Definite answers may be elusive, but with the aid of speculative fiction and insights from internationally acclaimed scientists, we may catch a glimpse of the possible future of longevity.
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Floor plan
You are entering an alternative reality. Each room opens up a new perspective on a life in which biological aging has been abolished. At the very end, there is a reality check: what do our experts have to say about how longevity research will develop?
1. Reception
Imagine a world in which biological death is abolished! Of course, we no longer need hospitals. That’s why these buildings are abandoned and in decay. And where are the people? Patients, staff? Voices sound out of old loudspeakers:
“If it’s really a perfect replica of who I am, I would enjoy being around for a little bit longer,”
One professor says.
“Elongated ears and noses are considered pretty these days,” a young girl claims. Then, suddenly, a strange version of The Cold Song from Purcell’s King Arthur resounds, performed on a glass harp. Any wonder that someone suddenly calls: “When I was thawed, I was fifty-two years younger than my daughter.” From the corner, Adwaita observes the hustle and bustle of the exhibition visitors. When the turtle passed away in a Calcutta zoo in the year 2006, it was at least 255 years old.
2. Control Room
Short films share with us the partially grotesque, partially stunning consequences of a life without biological death.
Perfect Immortal Vision, with Hana Motokura.
A Japanese teenager claims she is over one hundred years old and reversed the biological clock against the mainstream obsession with old age.
Wär het das nit wölle vo uns, with Urs Baur aka Black Tiger.
A rapper is lost in confusion in the face of the new opportunities offered to him in a world without death.
I-Myself-the-Avatar, with Jürg Kienberger.
A pensioner who likes to lead a contemplative life, playing self-made instruments and a game of boules, is urged by his avatar to aim for a healthier lifestyle. The avatar speaks from a future fifty years from now.
Ah, Humanity!, with Graham Valentine.
Two eccentric intellectuals – twins – get into an argument about the sense or nonsense of physical and mental self-optimization.
MotherDaughter, with Tabitha Frehner.
A mother in an eco-dictatorship dedicates a message to her unborn son. Giving birth is not allowed. But in a later time, a daughter appears, from a frozen embryo. The daughter herself will soon give birth to a son. The ban on having children has apparently been lifted.
Perfect Immortal Vision, with Hana Motokura.
A Japanese teenager claims she is over one hundred years old and reversed the biological clock against the mainstream obsession with old age.
Wär het das nit wölle vo uns, with Urs Baur aka Black Tiger.
A rapper is lost in confusion in the face of the new opportunities offered to him in a world without death.
I-Myself-the-Avatar, with Jürg Kienberger.
A pensioner who likes to lead a contemplative life, playing self-made instruments and a game of boules, is urged by his avatar to aim for a healthier lifestyle. The avatar speaks from a future fifty years from now.
Ah, Humanity!, with Graham Valentine.
Two eccentric intellectuals – twins – get into an argument about the sense or nonsense of physical and mental self-optimization.
MotherDaughter, with Tabitha Frehner.
A mother in an eco-dictatorship dedicates a message to her unborn son. Giving birth is not allowed. But in a later time, a daughter appears, from a frozen embryo. The daughter herself will soon give birth to a son. The ban on having children has apparently been lifted.
3. Lab room
Welcome to the Lab Room. Yes, it has been repurposed at some point. God knows what these mirrors were installed for. In the meantime, they allow us to look into the invisible world of our cells, genes, molecules, atoms. The world of 10−9 or 0.000000001.
“But all joys want eternity” comments Zarathustra’s roundelay in view of the nanoworld’s deliberations as they expand into boundlessness.
4. Surgery Room
JetztSong, with Tabitha Frehner.
The last seconds in the life of a woman who ends her endless life, hoping for a meaningful afterlife. While lying on the operating table, she has an out-of-body experience and wanders through moments of her life with mortals before they died out. She remembers having been born in a world where there were mortal and immortal people. The mortal ones became extinct at some point. The immortal ones led endlessly long lives. But the woman discovered that an endless life does not bring fulfillment.
The last seconds in the life of a woman who ends her endless life, hoping for a meaningful afterlife. While lying on the operating table, she has an out-of-body experience and wanders through moments of her life with mortals before they died out. She remembers having been born in a world where there were mortal and immortal people. The mortal ones became extinct at some point. The immortal ones led endlessly long lives. But the woman discovered that an endless life does not bring fulfillment.
“Life is poor since we have been healed of aging,”
She found out.
Life is impoverished without a fear of the future. For without fear, there is also no hope.
5. Recovery Room
After all these strange stories from an alternative reality, there is no harm in hearing/listening to what researchers from our world of mortals have to say about the theme of aging. We met up with some of them.
Fiona Marshall, President, Biomedical Research Novartis
Alex Schier, Cell Biologist, University of Basel
Markus Rüegg, Neurobiologist, University of Basel
Christoph Handschin, Cell Biologist, University of Basel
Venki Ramakrishnan, Structural Biologist, Cambridge UK. Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry
Michael N. Hall, Molecular Biologist, University of Basel
Linda Partridge, Geneticist, University College London
Jess Bone, Epidemiologist, University College London
Hendrik Scholl, Ophthalmologist, University of Basel
Matt Kaeberlein, Biogerontologist, University of Washington, Seattle
Alex Schier, Cell Biologist, University of Basel
Markus Rüegg, Neurobiologist, University of Basel
Christoph Handschin, Cell Biologist, University of Basel
Venki Ramakrishnan, Structural Biologist, Cambridge UK. Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry
Michael N. Hall, Molecular Biologist, University of Basel
Linda Partridge, Geneticist, University College London
Jess Bone, Epidemiologist, University College London
Hendrik Scholl, Ophthalmologist, University of Basel
Matt Kaeberlein, Biogerontologist, University of Washington, Seattle
They expressed their views on these themes: The meaning of Being. State-of-the-art longevity research. Why and how we age? What is healthy aging, and how can it be achieved? Is aging a disease? Has the first person to live 150 years been born already? Forever young. The animal, your friend and test subject. L’homme machine. Rapamycin, the elixir of longevity. Aging, hope, fear and big money. Take personal control over your health! Science fiction as inspiration and phantasma. Old age is beautiful, if you get it right.
Open daily from 11 am until 6 pm, except Tuesdays. Free entry
Address
Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger | KBH.G
Spitalstrasse 18, 4056 Basel, Schweiz
Spitalstrasse 18, 4056 Basel, Schweiz
Contacts
Credits works of the exhibition
Bright hospital
Idea : Michael Schindhelm
Set Design : veneer
Set Design : veneer
Adwaita
Sculpture by Beat Künzler
Perfect Immortal Vision
Starring: Hana Motokura
Directed, written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Lesh J. Parekh
Agency: Melina Lee, Faces Agency Singapore
Science visualisations: Peter Maloca, Christian Prünte
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Directed, written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Lesh J. Parekh
Agency: Melina Lee, Faces Agency Singapore
Science visualisations: Peter Maloca, Christian Prünte
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
I, Myself
and the Avatar
Starring: Jürg Kienberger
Directed, co-written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Co-written by: Claudia Carigiet
Music by: Jürg Kienberger
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Assistant camera: Kiu Mergenthaler
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Directed, co-written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Co-written by: Claudia Carigiet
Music by: Jürg Kienberger
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Assistant camera: Kiu Mergenthaler
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Ah, Humanity!
Starring: Graham Valentine
Directed, co-written: Michael Schindhelm
Co-written: Graham Valentine
Music by: Jürg Kienberger, Till Zehnder
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Assistant camera: Kiu Mergenthaler
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Directed, co-written: Michael Schindhelm
Co-written: Graham Valentine
Music by: Jürg Kienberger, Till Zehnder
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Assistant camera: Kiu Mergenthaler
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
MotherDaughter
Starring: Tabitha Frehner
Directed, co-written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Co-written: Tabitha Frehner
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Assistant camera: Kiu Mergenthaler
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Music, Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Science visualizations: Novartis
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Directed, co-written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Co-written: Tabitha Frehner
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Assistant camera: Kiu Mergenthaler
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Music, Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Science visualizations: Novartis
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Wär het das nit wölle vo uns?
Performed and written by: Urs Baur aka Black Tiger
Directed and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Music by: Urs Baur aka Black Tiger
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Gabriel Meisel
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Directed and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Music by: Urs Baur aka Black Tiger
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Sound Design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Gabriel Meisel
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Jetzt Song
Starring: Tabitha Frehner
Directed, written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Music and sound design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Science visualizations: Novartis
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Directed, written and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Cinematography: Sven Rufer
Edited by: Stefano Cravero
VFX by: Dimitri Erhard
Music and sound design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Make Up: Yara Rapold
Science visualizations: Novartis
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Endless
Picture composition: Stefano Cravero and Michael Schindhelm
Voice: Michael Schindhelm
Sound Design by: Till Zehnder
Science visualisations: Novartis
Voice: Michael Schindhelm
Sound Design by: Till Zehnder
Science visualisations: Novartis
The End of Aging? (An Enquiry)
Protagonists: Jess Bone, Michael N. Hall, Christoph Handschin, Matt Kaeberlein, Fiona Marshall, Linda Partridge, Venki Ramakrishnan, Markus A. Rüegg, Alexander Schier, Hendrik Scholl
Directed and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Cinematography: Salvatore di Pino, Luzius Müller
Editing: Stefano Cravero, Carlo Bertasso
Music and sound design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Directed and produced by: Michael Schindhelm
Cinematography: Salvatore di Pino, Luzius Müller
Editing: Stefano Cravero, Carlo Bertasso
Music and sound design: Till Zehnder
Sound Recording: Denis Szram
Executive manager: Filippo Armati
Graffiti works
Steven Gravino and Urs Baur
"I have garnered inspiration for this project from the works of, and talks by, Ray Kurzweil, Terry Grossman, Aubrey de Grey, David Sinclair, Andrew Steele and numerous publicly available writings published recently on the theme of longevity."
Michael Schindhelm
Acknowledgements
kbhg
Rebecca Eigen
Exhibitions & Public Program
Christiane Pohl
Assistant to the Director
Raphael Suter
Director
Stephanie Suter
Communication & Marketing
Nicole Strube
Photography
Clarissa Wiese
Social Media
Exhibitions & Public Program
Christiane Pohl
Assistant to the Director
Raphael Suter
Director
Stephanie Suter
Communication & Marketing
Nicole Strube
Photography
Clarissa Wiese
Social Media
Films
Filippo Armati
Project Manager
Patrick Bader
University of Basel
Gian-Luca Baumgartner
Logistics
Urs Baur aka Black Tiger
Performer, Author
Carlo Bertasso
Assistant editor
Jess Bone
Researcher, interviewee
Claudia Carigiet
Co-Author
Stefano Cravero
Editor
Dimitri Erhard
VFX
Salvatore di Pino
Cinematography
Tabitha Frehner
Actress, co-Author
Judith Graf
FHNW
Matthias Geering
University of Basel
Simone Grumbacher
Biozentrum, University of Basel
Michael N. Hall
Researcher, interviewee
Christoph Handschin
Researcher, interviewee
Anna Herzig
FHNW
Arianit Jashari
Novartis
Matt Kaeberlein
Researcher, interviewee
Jürg Kienberger
Actor / Musician
Michaela Kneissel
Researcher Novartis
Christoph Kohler
Canton Basel City
Peter Krottenthaler
Theater Basel
Melina Lee
Faces Agency SG
Olivia Lopez
Theater Basel
Peter Maloca
Researcher, University of Basel
Fiona Marshall
Researcher, interviewee
Gabriel Meisel
Sound recording
Kiu Mergenthaler
Assistant Camera
Manuela Meyer
FHNW
Hana Motokura
Actress
Luzius Müller
Cinematography
Brigitte Olufsen
Biozentrum, University of Basel
Lesh J. Parekh
Sound recording
Linda Partridge
Researcher, interviewee
Frank Petersen
Researcher, Novartis
Selcuk Polat
FHNW
Christian Prünte
Researcher, University of Basel
Venki Ramakrishnan
Researcher, interviewee
Yara Rapold
Theater Basel
Nelly Riggenbach
Novartis
Pascale Rippstein
FHNW
Markus A. Rüegg
Researcher, interviewee
Sven Rufer
Cinematography
Michael Sackmann
Ferry boat
Tilman Saleh
Novartis
Alexander Schier
Researcher, interviewee
Falko Schlottig
FHNW
Karin Schmitz
Theater Basel
Hendrik Scholl
Researcher, interviewee
Torsten Schwede
Vice Rector, University of Basel
André Steinbach
Service Kilchenmann Novartis
Denim Szram
Sound recording
Graham Valentine
Actor / Co-Author
Christian Wiesmann
Researcher Novartis
Till Zehnder
Music / Sound design
Project Manager
Patrick Bader
University of Basel
Gian-Luca Baumgartner
Logistics
Urs Baur aka Black Tiger
Performer, Author
Carlo Bertasso
Assistant editor
Jess Bone
Researcher, interviewee
Claudia Carigiet
Co-Author
Stefano Cravero
Editor
Dimitri Erhard
VFX
Salvatore di Pino
Cinematography
Tabitha Frehner
Actress, co-Author
Judith Graf
FHNW
Matthias Geering
University of Basel
Simone Grumbacher
Biozentrum, University of Basel
Michael N. Hall
Researcher, interviewee
Christoph Handschin
Researcher, interviewee
Anna Herzig
FHNW
Arianit Jashari
Novartis
Matt Kaeberlein
Researcher, interviewee
Jürg Kienberger
Actor / Musician
Michaela Kneissel
Researcher Novartis
Christoph Kohler
Canton Basel City
Peter Krottenthaler
Theater Basel
Melina Lee
Faces Agency SG
Olivia Lopez
Theater Basel
Peter Maloca
Researcher, University of Basel
Fiona Marshall
Researcher, interviewee
Gabriel Meisel
Sound recording
Kiu Mergenthaler
Assistant Camera
Manuela Meyer
FHNW
Hana Motokura
Actress
Luzius Müller
Cinematography
Brigitte Olufsen
Biozentrum, University of Basel
Lesh J. Parekh
Sound recording
Linda Partridge
Researcher, interviewee
Frank Petersen
Researcher, Novartis
Selcuk Polat
FHNW
Christian Prünte
Researcher, University of Basel
Venki Ramakrishnan
Researcher, interviewee
Yara Rapold
Theater Basel
Nelly Riggenbach
Novartis
Pascale Rippstein
FHNW
Markus A. Rüegg
Researcher, interviewee
Sven Rufer
Cinematography
Michael Sackmann
Ferry boat
Tilman Saleh
Novartis
Alexander Schier
Researcher, interviewee
Falko Schlottig
FHNW
Karin Schmitz
Theater Basel
Hendrik Scholl
Researcher, interviewee
Torsten Schwede
Vice Rector, University of Basel
André Steinbach
Service Kilchenmann Novartis
Denim Szram
Sound recording
Graham Valentine
Actor / Co-Author
Christian Wiesmann
Researcher Novartis
Till Zehnder
Music / Sound design
Scenography
Harald Back
Exhibition building
Nicola Bischof
iart System Engineering
Steffen Blunk
iart Construction Management
Franz Burkhardt
Exhibition building
Ursula Degen
Light Design
Markus Ebbighausen
iart Software Engineering
Erik Axel Eggeling
iart System Engineering
Alexio Garcia
iart Installation and Maintenance
Steven Gravino
Graffiti Artist
Beat Grossniklaus
Exhibition building
Ivan Hörler
iart Audio Technology
Giorgia Imber
Exhibition building
Verena Fleissig
iart Media Planning
Beat Künzler
Turtle sculpture
Avi Lasry
Exhibition building
Barbara Maggio
Exhibition planning / building
Giulio Margheri
Design, Scenography
Luca Moscelli
Design, Scenography
Viktor Paul
iart Installation Management
Anna Pfeiffer
iart Project Management
Nelson Schiff
iart Installation and Maintenance
Stefan Schmidt
iart Servicing and Support
Valentin Sträuli
iart Computer Scientist
Jerome Weber
iart IT Support and Servicing
Johannes Wernicke
iart System Engineering
Exhibition building
Nicola Bischof
iart System Engineering
Steffen Blunk
iart Construction Management
Franz Burkhardt
Exhibition building
Ursula Degen
Light Design
Markus Ebbighausen
iart Software Engineering
Erik Axel Eggeling
iart System Engineering
Alexio Garcia
iart Installation and Maintenance
Steven Gravino
Graffiti Artist
Beat Grossniklaus
Exhibition building
Ivan Hörler
iart Audio Technology
Giorgia Imber
Exhibition building
Verena Fleissig
iart Media Planning
Beat Künzler
Turtle sculpture
Avi Lasry
Exhibition building
Barbara Maggio
Exhibition planning / building
Giulio Margheri
Design, Scenography
Luca Moscelli
Design, Scenography
Viktor Paul
iart Installation Management
Anna Pfeiffer
iart Project Management
Nelson Schiff
iart Installation and Maintenance
Stefan Schmidt
iart Servicing and Support
Valentin Sträuli
iart Computer Scientist
Jerome Weber
iart IT Support and Servicing
Johannes Wernicke
iart System Engineering
PUBLICATION AND COMMUNICATION
Alexandra Bradley
Media Relations
Ginevra Fiorentini
Media Relations
Giga Design Studio
Website: Gabriele Donini, Pablo Galbusera, Giacomo Scandolara, Matteo Garagiola, Tommaso Algozzino, Cecilia Aguzzi, Gabriele Leonardi, Pietro Ariel Parisi, Francesco Bonetti, Xenia Havrylova
Stefano Zeni
3D scans
Andreas Kreienbühl
Publication, Graphics
Media Relations
Ginevra Fiorentini
Media Relations
Giga Design Studio
Website: Gabriele Donini, Pablo Galbusera, Giacomo Scandolara, Matteo Garagiola, Tommaso Algozzino, Cecilia Aguzzi, Gabriele Leonardi, Pietro Ariel Parisi, Francesco Bonetti, Xenia Havrylova
Stefano Zeni
3D scans
Andreas Kreienbühl
Publication, Graphics
Imprint
Published by
Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger | KBH.G kbhg.ch
Design by
Giga Design Studio
Production by
Lavapolis
Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger | KBH.G kbhg.ch
Design by
Giga Design Studio
Production by
Lavapolis