Marina Abramovic presents Norman Foster with golden replica of his brain
Acclaimed artist Marina Abramovic has presented Lord Norman Foster with a golden replica of his brain.
The British architect received the unusual sculpture – derived from a 3D scan of his brain – as part of an awards ceremony at Campus Biotech in Geneva. Foster is one of the 2016 recipients of the Scopus Award – the highest honour conferred by the Friends of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem – for his “exceptional cultural contribution and humanitarian concerns.”
The ceremony was attended by Lily Safra, benefactor of the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, which was designed by Foster + Partners.
In addition to the brain, Abramovic also created a custom-made ‘mad scientist’ skull cap for Foster equipped with LED lights.
“I really like Norman Foster, and his sense of humour,” said Abramovic, according to Art Net News. “And, he’s English, so I was thinking how to combine these things. So I thought, let’s create some kind of replica of his brain itself, as a sculpture.
“You know, in England, every tea set has a tea cosy, so I said, let’s make a cosy for the brain, but one that can somehow create a charge or create light. It creates some kind of mad scientist idea of luminosity coming out.”
Attendees at the event, called ‘The Golden Brain Gala’, were presented with gold-dusted chocolate moulds of Abramovic’s lips, and a rectangle of gold leaf which they were asked to apply as a lipstick. Both were produced in a collaboration between Abramovic, dessert artists Kreëmart and sweet maker Ladurée.
Snacks included ‘A Golden Ball dessert’, made from almonds, peppercorn, honey and edible gold – a recipe Abramovic has taken from Tibetan monks and which is intended to stimulate memory and the brain.








Mather & Co-designed Gretna Green Experience opens to the public

Project to save last major bellfoundry which cast bells for St Paul's and Washington National Cathedral

Perkins & Will reveals designs for net-zero sports and cultural centre in Toronto

World’s first living waterslides announced for Therme Manchester

Heatherwick reveals Volcano-inspired opera house designs for Hainan

Natural history museum planned for Abu Dhabi

Controversial London music venue, MSG Sphere, gets full planning permission

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment

Glasgow's iconic Burrell Collection reopens after five-year, £68.5m revamp

SB Architects delivers Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica with tree-house spa and private residences

Ole Scheeren designs vertical jungle resort complex in China

Designer Brian d’Souza launches Swell to create evocative soundscapes for physical environments

Basalt Architects create geothermal Forest Lagoon in the wilds of Iceland

Hot Pickle design £73m Guinness visitor attraction for Diageo in London

Amsterdam's new digital art centre Fabrique des Lumières will use tech to bring art alive

Pharrell Williams to launch tropical Bahamian beach resort

Banyan Tree curating solar-powered wellness retreat on private Mozambican island

Dubai Expo hits 10 million visits

Foster + Partners designs Dorchester Collection's first hotel in Middle East

Neil Jacobs reveals Six Senses Places concept for major cities

Orient Express returns to Italy after 46 years with six trains designed by Dimorestudio and new Rome hotel

400-year-old mineral spring will power Preidlhof’s €2m medicinal bath experience

Universal Beijing Resort reveals expansion plans for second phase

Pop-up stadium built with shipping containers opens ahead of 2022 World Cup

Playfulness will inspire Serenbe’s new wellness community, Spela

John McAslan + Partners-designed M7 cultural hub and museum opens in Doha

LPO Architects and GrecoDeco create vast subterranean wellness retreat for Oslo

Herzog and de Meuron’s M+ museum of visual culture distils essence of Hong Kong
