Text by Meritxell Rosell
The HeLa cell line is an immortal cell line that is used in almost every molecular biology lab. HeLa cell line is remarkable because it was the first human cell line to grow well in a lab, as the cells don’t die after a set number of cell divisions. Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman whose cancer cells were the source of the HeLa cell line.
Lacks’ cells were instrumental in advancing the latest scientific research and giving hope to hundreds of thousands of people suffering from the disease. The HeLa cell line, as well, has contributed to the development of the polio vaccine, among countless other advances in scientific research. But also became a controversial and sensitive matter as Henrietta’s cells were harvested without compensation or consent.
The IMMORTAL HeLa was part of the UnTOUCHABLE Art Festival in Saint-Petersburg (Russia, 2017). Art Critic and Dramaturge Alina Shklyarskaya went deeply on describing how the installation is significant in the Russian scene in both artistic and scientific areas. ‘Viewers enter the space of a dome theatre; while sat comfortably on the cushions provided, they get fully immersed into a 3D video projection experienced as a tunnel of human cells’, Shklyarskaya told us.
At that time (in the 50s), it was not required to inform patients and their relatives, so the [HeLa] cells were taken and harvested without the knowledge of Henrietta Lacks, who died of cervical cancer in 1951. The installation is also an ‘act of personification of the owner of biological material (cancer cells); participants witness the importance of their physiological and mental sensations. The installation empowers the viewers to make critical decisions about their lives, for example, taking more responsibility for their health,’ adds Shklyarskaya.
One of the largest Russian innovative biotech companies using HeLa cells in its research is BIOCAD, a full-cycle drug development and manufacturing company. BIOCAD was invited to collaborate with artists on the installation of The IMMORTAL HeLa, a performative, inclusive art and science installation that uses real scientific data and materials.
‘Social and educational projects of BIOCAD are aimed at making people aware of the cancer risk factors and teaching them the importance of early disease detection. The public in Russia is scared of any mentions of cancer, which is one of the most significant problems of Russian oncology.’
Told us scientist Aleksandr Karabelsky, PhD, Head of the Department of Advanced Research Projects, BIOCAD, when asked about how BIOCAD got involved in the project. ‘One of the promoters of Untouchable Art happened to get a guided tour around BIOCAD laboratories, during which a lab assistant mentioned HeLa cells they used. In a couple of years, the promoters approached us with a proposal – to make an installation for the UnTOUCHABLE art festival.’ Karabelsky continued.
The biggest challenge BIOCAD faced was telling people about the scientific background behind the project in a language they would understand and linking this background to the oncology problems. Nevertheless, ‘collaboration with art and artist project makes it possible for biotech and science-oriented companies to reach broader audiences for our discovery to be relevant to society. Working with artists opens possibilities for more effective and enhanced communication of scientific results. The IMMORTAL HeLa helped us [BIOCAD] to raise awareness, promote understanding, and generate an emotional response from the public.’
