Close to me

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RESEARCH BACKGROUND: CUSP: Designing into the Next Decade is a major nationally touring exhibition and range of cultural activities curated and managed by Object: The Australian Design Centre. Hundreds of designer-artists were considered before an eight-member expert curatorial group interviewed a long shortlist of 75. From this process the 12 exhibitors were selected. The first leg of the tour was an exhibition at Sydney's Casula Powerhouse (6 July-1 September 2013) and 20,000 people visited. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: Heiss' installation, Close to Me, exposes the workings of her practice at the intersection of medical technology, jewellery aesthetics, spatial design and advanced manufacturing. It features four of Heiss' projects. Seed Sensor (2011) is a device that unfurls in the gut to detect bubbles of gas that are early indicators of disease; Emergency Jewellery (2012 /13) incorporating the latest technology to store critical patient data; Hearing Emotion (2012/13) addresses issues around hearing loss; and Diabetes Jewellery (2007/08) to administer insulin for diabetics. The installation also includes a 3-minute film, made by Heiss, that demonstrates how people use and interact with these technologies. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: This touring exhibition has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory board. The Australian Design Centre estimates up to 150,000 people will see it. In a related CUSP activity, on 9 July 2013, Heiss, Design + Industry Director Anthony Honeyfield and Dr John Cartmill, Professor of Surgery at the Australian School of Advanced Medicine participated in 'The Heart of it' a public forum facilitated by ABC Radio National's By Design presenter Fenella Kernebone and subsequently broadcast. In August 2013, Heiss' work was featured in the 'Australian Financial Review' magazine.