Artist Miriam Simun is currently presenting an exhibition about her Institute for Transhumanist Cephalopod Evolution at the art space Recess in Brooklyn. The centerpiece is a series of workshops titled “How to Become an Octopus (and sometime squid),” where she guides participants through psycho-physical exercises developed with marine biologists, engineers, dancers, and synchronized swimmers. Artnet News co-host Ben Davis attended the workshop and discusses the experience on this week's Art Angle podcast.
Simun's work reflects a growing trend among contemporary artists who explore non-human consciousness to challenge humanity's troubled relationship with nature. By inviting participants to expand their “definition of self” through cephalopod-inspired sensory exercises, the project pushes the boundaries of art as a tool for ecological and philosophical reflection, making it relevant to broader conversations about empathy, embodiment, and environmental crisis.