Alvin Lucier's Living Cells Create Art Posthumously at Now or Never Festival
The Now or Never festival in Melbourne showcases 'Revivification,' an art piece that utilizes living neural tissue from the late composer Alvin Lucier, who passed away in 2021. Prior to his death, Lucier worked with artists and scientists—Guy Ben-Ary, Nathan Thompson, Matt Gingold, and Stuart Hodgetts—to cultivate his white blood cells into cerebral organoids that emit electrical signals to manipulate metal plates, creating gong-like sounds. These organoids 'listen' through microphones, responding to sound stimuli. First introduced in Perth in 2025, the installation is currently displayed at Melbourne Town Hall until 29 August. Philosopher Patrick Stokes remarks that the organoids contain Lucier's DNA, prompting discussions about creativity, personhood, and artistic ownership.
Key facts
- Alvin Lucier died in 2021.
- Lucier donated white blood cells to a team in Western Australia.
- The team included artists Guy Ben-Ary, Nathan Thompson, Matt Gingold, and scientist Stuart Hodgetts.
- The cells were cultured into cerebral organoids, about the size of a pea.
- The installation 'Revivification' first debuted in Perth in 2025.
- It is currently at Melbourne Town Hall until 29 August as part of the Now or Never festival.
- The organoids control metal plates with mallets, producing gong-like sounds.
- The organoids also 'listen' via microphones and react to stimuli.
- Lucier's 1965 piece 'Music For Solo Performer' used his brainwaves to create music.
- John Cage collaborated on the first performance of 'Music For Solo Performer'.
Entities
Artists
- Alvin Lucier
- Guy Ben-Ary
- Nathan Thompson
- Matt Gingold
- John Cage
- Patrick Stokes
Institutions
- Now or Never festival
- Melbourne Town Hall
- Deakin University
- ArtsHub
- ScreenHub
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Perth
- Western Australia