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Shaping Destiny

Shaping Destiny is a public engagement project exploring different perspectives on the shape of the human body by uniting research in molecular genetics and the arts.

Background

When we develop as an embryo in the womb, the fate of cells and the form of the body are in a very real sense determined by the activity of our genes. However, there are obvious limits to the role of genes in determining, for example, our capabilities, place in society, relationships, sense of self, and our destiny. 

There is a tension between the genetic determination of our physical form and the manifest ability of individuals to overcome what’s determined by biology and constraints set by society. 

Dance and Science

This project included young disabled and non-disabled dancers from Oxford’s Parasol Project and Body Politic to create dance performances captured in 3D virtual reality format.

On the side of science, co-Principal Investigators Prof Shankar Srinivas, IDRM, and Prof Wes Williams, TORCH, exploring the ideas of destiny and embodiment from their respective backgrounds in the life sciences and the humanities.

Shaping Destiny Public Engagement project dancers

VR Technology

In 2020, young disabled and non-disabled dancers from Oxford’s Parasol Projects created a Digital Body film with Alexander Whitley Dance Company. Real-world dance movements were captured and edited together with 3D motion graphics by artists Robin Ashurst and Abel Enklaar at Flat 12 and music by Rival Consoles.

Kostas Pataridis, from Andromeda Software Development, led the 3D filming and creation of the VR experience of the dancers. Together with Alexander Whitley, he enabled the viewers to share a space with the dancers in a 3D VR experience.

 


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