ORLAN at Macro Roma: Body, Technology, and Identity Mutation

The Macro museum in Rome presents a concise exhibition dedicated to ORLAN, a leading figure of Carnal Art, now filtered through technological media. The show, curated by Alessandra Mammì, spans two rooms highlighting body and technology. ORLAN (born 1947 in Saint-Étienne) appeared at the press conference alongside Stefania Miscetti, who proposed the project to Macro years after a solo show at her studio in 1996. The exhibition emphasizes ORLAN's use of augmented reality and video games for the first time, including the videogame 'Expèriment mise en jeu' (2015) with a Myo bracelet, where players reconstruct identity rather than destroy. The game was inspired by the destruction of Palmyra and the Buddhas of Bamiyan. ORLAN also discusses her lawsuit against Lady Gaga for alleged plagiarism of her 'Bumpload' sculpture, seeking $31.5 million. Fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck used ORLAN's forehead bumps in his collections since 1998. The show features augmented reality works from the 'Self-hybridations' series, including masks from Beijing Opera, critiquing gender discrimination in Chinese theatre. ORLAN received the 2017 Ipazia Prize for Female Excellence, to be awarded in Genoa on November 22, and will speak at Villa Medici in Rome on December 14.