TX-1 / Tranxxeno Lab / Adriana Knouf (US)
While we (humans) refer to potential life in outer space as “aliens,” queer and transgender life on Earth is likewise still often referred to as “alien.” tranxxeno lab by Adriana Knouf addresses the biochemical requirements of transgender persons in outer space, especially their need for hormone replacement medication. TX-1 launched bits of these medications to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the first-known time that elements of the transgender experience orbited the Earth. TX-1 includes a fragment of Knouf’s spironolactone pill, a slice of her estradiol patch, and a miniature paper sculpture, as a gesture towards the absent-yet-present xenoentities of the cosmos. A symbolic exodus, the return of TX-1 to Earth was also a sign of resilience. The project draws attention to the fact that all human bodies are subject to individual, societal, and environmental changes, and that all people need support and care for their survival—whether on Earth or in space.
"TX-1" won the Award of Distinction at the Prix Ars Electronica 2021.
Credit: Ars Electronica - Robert Bauernhansl
TX-1 / Tranxxeno Lab / Adriana Knouf (US)
While we (humans) refer to potential life in outer space as “aliens,” queer and transgender life on Earth is likewise still often referred to as “alien.” tranxxeno lab by Adriana Knouf addresses the biochemical requirements of transgender persons in outer space, especially their need for hormone replacement medication. TX-1 launched bits of these medications to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the first-known time that elements of the transgender experience orbited the Earth. TX-1 includes a fragment of Knouf’s spironolactone pill, a slice of her estradiol patch, and a miniature paper sculpture, as a gesture towards the absent-yet-present xenoentities of the cosmos. A symbolic exodus, the return of TX-1 to Earth was also a sign of resilience. The project draws attention to the fact that all human bodies are subject to individual, societal, and environmental changes, and that all people need support and care for their survival—whether on Earth or in space.
"TX-1" won the Award of Distinction at the Prix Ars Electronica 2021.
Credit: Ars Electronica - Robert Bauernhansl