Bat Banquet - Interdisciplinary Practice and Research at the Intersection of Art and Science

Principle Investigator：Kuang-Yi Ku

This project aims to retrospectively examine and investigate the spatial and temporal context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the scientific speculation that wild animal consumption may have been the origin of the outbreak, leading to a series of food-related racism incidents. By taking bats, one of the potential sources of infection, as the subject of study, we seek to explore the cultural issues reflected in the scientific domain through design. Furthermore, we aim to critically examine how human beings interact with nature through their dietary habits in the wake of the global pandemic. This project will integrate speculative design and participatory performance to develop a novel creative approach. By collaborating with scientists from various fields, we aim to experiment with the co-creation of knowledge when art and science intersect. Additionally, this project challenges traditional modes of scientific communication by exploring alternative sensory experiences for the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Through this interdisciplinary creative and research endeavor, we invite the audience to engage in critical reflection and interpretation of a range of complex issues, including racism, colonialism, environmentalism, future food, ethical concerns of biotechnology, global fears, and the relationship between humans and non-human organisms.