THE IMMORTAL CELL
Who Wants to Live Forever? tells the incredible story of Henrietta Lacks through art, science, storytelling and documentation as part of a special installation organised by the North West Cancer Research Centre and hosted at Tate Liverpool, in partnership with Eclipse Theatre Company and artist Faith Bebbington. 30 Sept - 4 Oct 2019
Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman who died of an aggressive form of cancer on 4 October 1951. While she underwent treatment, a sample of her cancer cells was taken without her consent. Following Henrietta's death, discoveries made using her cells changed medical research forever. Known as HeLa, the cells have allowed scientists to make significant breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer, polio, HIV and many other diseases. It has also started a long and ongoing conversation about patient consent and medical ethics.
Saphena Aziz led storytelling sessions on the themes of remembrance and legacy in the gallery and Faith invited visitors to contribute to the Immortal Cell textile artwork. She started creating this piece while recovering from cancer, with a rag rug designed on the shapes and formation of HeLa cells.
To help mark the beginning of Black History Month, and the anniversary of Henrietta’s death, the organisers invited two of Henrietta’s grandchildren to come to Liverpool to visit the ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ exhibition and to meet with University of Liverpool scientists who are working with her cells as part of their cancer-related health research. Faith was honoured to have the opportunity to meet them at a special dinner held in their honour. Photos shows Faith meeting David Lacks Jr. and Jeri Lacks Whye who kindly shared “Who am I?” a poem she had written about her grandmothers story.
