‘Doctor Honoris Causa’ Koen Vanmechelen

received an honorary doctorate from the University of Has-selt. This years' theme was 'Art meets science'. The UHasselt also bestowed the title of 'Doctor Honoris Causa' to two other international artists: Panamarenko (Belgium) and Michael Rowe (United Kingdom). He started his Cosmopolitan Chicken Project (CCP) in the late '90s. By crossbreeding chickens from all over the planet he tries to create a cosmopolitan chicken that combines different traits from the original breeds. This genetic diversity is a model for mixing the genome of human population groups. So far he has realized 13 generations of crossbreds. Vanmechelen uses this genetic diversity of chickens as a metaphor, to explain certain relevant social phenomena. He asks attention for 'crossing borders' to achieve mutual 'cosmopolitical' understanding. 'Nothing is as beautiful as joining with other cultures and taking energy from this.' The artist has developed a unique mix of different media to work around this theme. Often in collaboration with scientists. His works range from highly expressive paintings and drawings, to photography, video's, installations, works in glass and a recurring wooden sculpture. What connects all these different modes of expression is the chicken and the egg. Over the years they have become an important symbol that has enabled the artist to make a connection to scientific , political, philosophical and ethical domains and issues. The intricate artistic-philosophical system he developed is the subject of debates, conversations and lectures the artist organizes or takes part in to shape his philosophical universe. Out of Vanmechelens central ideas, forming the Cosmopolitan Chicken Project (CCP), three major directions have developed. They have linked themselves to other domains: scientific, social and philosophical. The three are: The Walking egg arose out of the mutual curiosity of two domains that start from a sense of amazement and a compulsion to understand the human identity. It concerns art and medical sciences, in this case the field of fertility (Willem Ombelet). Beside the creation of an illustrated magazine (The Walking Egg Gazette), the cross-over between the CCP and the fertility project of Willem Ombelet led to an artistic-scientific project in Arusha, Tanzania. This meant the start of a focus on (in) fertility in developing countries. The artist will also contribute to this important project of " Universal access to reproductive care, including infertility " , coordinated by Willem Ombelet. He will creating a series of numbered reproductions of his work which can be sold …