Catherine Sarah Young
楊 佳 仁

Catherine Sarah Young is an artist, designer and writer. She was born in Manila and is currently a PhD candidate in UNSW Sydney. A multi-diasporic artist who has lived in ten countries, she uses her background in molecular biology, fine art, and interaction design to create interdisciplinary and experimental artworks on the environment. She cultivates an artscience practice by using scientific experimentation and molecular transformations in her art-making, and often relates these to planetary and environmental issues. Young has worked in various ecosystems worldwide, and her work has been exhibited and published internationally. She is an Obama Leader for Asia-Pacific and a Creative Peacebuilder for The Peace Studio. She was a Fulbright scholar to the School of Visual Arts in 2010, one of Art Review Asia’s Future Greats in 2018, a 13 Artist Awards recipient in the Philippines in 2021, and one of the Top 5 Arts researchers of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 2023.

Research interests: speculative design, design futures, sensory projects, human-centered design, science fiction, sustainability, environmental humanities

Twitter / X: @catherineyoung
Instagram: @catherinesarahyoung
csgyoung[at]gmail[dot]com

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PROJECT WEBSITES

The Apocalypse Project
Wild Science
Future Rx
Field Notes from Planet Earth
Seoul43

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VIDEO INTRODUCTION

Artist Introduction: The Perceptionalist from Catherine Young on Vimeo.

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TALKS, WORKSHOPS, PROJECT DEMONSTRATIONS

2022
• Panelist. LANDING 2022: “How do we engage with climate change in the arts?” Art & Market Singapore.
• Panelist. “The Sewer Soaperie: Flooding, Waste Systems and Adaptations.” 2021 Annual Conference Program: Inspired by Nature: Designed by Science.” ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology. Macquarie University.
• Lecture. From the Ashes: Reflecting on the Australian bushfire crisis through interdisciplinary art. das weisse haus, Vienna. 21 March 2022
• Interview. Walker, Brian. Dreams Not Memes podcast. Episode 319: Discussing the Intersection of Art and Science: A Conversation with Catherine Sarah Young. 7 January 2022.

2021
• “From the Ashes: Interrogating Systems Using Art Made from the Remains of the Australian Bushfires,” Society for Social Studies of Science (4S Toronto), 8 October 2021
• “Olfactory Wheel for the Critical Zones,” Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts (SLSA), 30 September 2021
• “Olfactory Wheel for the Critical Zones,” Australian Science and Technology Studies (AusSTS), 25 September 2021
• “The Ghost of Rain: Investigating Petrichor as Companion Molecules in the Critical Zones through the Arts,” International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS), 24-28 August 2021
• “Burned Lines: Rewriting Text from Climate Change Deniers Using Ash,” The International Environmental Communication Association (IECA): Remediating the Wild, The 16th Conference on Communication and the Environment, 24 June 2021
• “The Ghost of Rain: A Proposal for Petrichor as Companion Molecules in the Australian Bushfire Crisis,” Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, 23 June 2021
• “The Creative Resistance: Art, Science, and Systems Change,” Transformations 2021: Enabling Positive Tipping Points in an Uncertain World, 17-18 June 2021
• “The Ghost of Rain: The Search for Petrichor in the Australian Bushfires,” Culture-Culture Toronto, 28 August 2021
• “Our Entangled Future”, virtual reading University of Oslo, 21 May 2021
• Interview, Occupational Hazards Podcast, 7 April 2021
• Panelist, Climate Designers for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021
• Workshop at Baltic Center for Contemporary Art, Newcastle, UK (online)
• Part of teaching team, LunART Summer Arts Camp, Wisconsin, Madison (online)

2020
• Artist Talk. “Subversive Imagination: Art, Design, and Systems Change”, Speculative Futures Sydney
• Lecture and Workshop, “Rewriting the Problematic? Counternarratives”, New Politics and Afrofuturisms Programme, University of the Underground, Amsterdam/London (online)
• Artist Talk, “The Artist as Rebel,” inVIVO Conference for Planetary Health (global, online)
• Artist Talk, “Dismantling the Apocalypse: Specualtive Futures in Pandemic Times,” Speculative Futures Bangkok (online)

2019
• Artist Talk, Vox Pop Video Address, Global Landscapes Forum, Kyoto, 13 May 2019
• Artist and Sustainability Talk, “How to Be a Smaller Part of the Problem,” Eco Art Challenge by Global Shapers Beijing, 16 March 2019

2018
• Artist Talk, “Art of Behavior: Art & Science for Social & Environmental Change,” Crossboundaries Beijing, 20 November 2018
• Interview. Parsons, Doug. “Flooding, Climate Change, and Art,” Episode 78, America Adapts: The Climate Change Podcast. 19 November 2018.
• Artist Talk, “The Creative Brain: Strategies to Support Artists’ Mental Health,” Gallery in the Gutter, Makati City, Philippines, 11 August 2018
• Artist Talk, “Art of Behavior: Art & Science for Social & Environmental Change,” Green Drinks, Beijng Bookworm, 14 November 2018
• Workshop, “Letters for Science,” KulturKontakt Austria Artists-in-Residence Go to School Program, Eferding Nord Neue Mittelschule, Eferding, Austria, 18 June 2018
• Artist Talk, “Art, Science and Norms: How Interdisciplinary Art Can Inspire Behavioral Change,” Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, 16 April 2018
• Artist Talk, “Proseso (II): Sustainable Brands,” Dulo MNL, 24 February 2018

2017
• Artist Talk, LabVerde Seminar, Museo do Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil, 29 July 2017
• Workshop Leader, “Youth Roadshow!” Climate Change Adaptation Art Workshop, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 3 June 2017
• Workshop Leader, “Youth Roadshow!” Climate Change Adaptation Art Workshop, Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines, 6 May 2017
• Workshop Leader, “Youth Roadshow!” Climate Change Adaptation Art Workshop, Lewoleba, Lembata Island, Indonesia, 7 April 2017

2016
• Workshop Leader, “FutureRx,” Gwacheon National Science Museum, Seoul, 29 October 2016
• Speaker and Workshop Leader, “Climate-Resilient International Development Exchange,” USAID Asia, Bangkok, 6 October 2016
• Artist Talk, “The Apocalypse Project: Urban Harvest”, 1335Mabini, Manila, 17 September 2016 (Link)
• Artist Talk, “The Apocalypse Project: Urban Harvest”, Conversations about Urban Art (Conversatorios sobre Arte Urbano), Banco de la Republica, Medellin, Colombia, 29 June 2016 (Link)
• Workshop Leader, “The Medellin Smell Lab” (Lab de Aromas de Medellin), Circuito Creativo Otrabanda, CISC+Laboratorio de Ideas, 18 June 2016 (Link)
• Workshop Leader, “The Medellin Smell Lab” (Lab de Aromas de Medellin), Platohedro, 14-15 June 2016 (Link)
• Artist Talk, “The Apocalypse Project: Urban Harvest”, Casa Tres Patios, 7 June 2016 (Link)

2015
• Workshop Leader, “Preserving Smells of Memories”, Bio-Art Seoul 2015, Gwacheon National Science Museum, 14 November 2015.
• Speaker, “Wet Media: Current Technological Climates of Emerging Technologies as Infection Scenarios in Transmission”, Bio-Art Seoul 2015, Sogang University, 6 November 2015.
• Speaker, “Sustainable Cities and Energy Transition”, De La Salle University, Manila, 8 October 2015.
• Speaker, “COP21—Expectations, Challenges, and Opportunities”, Ateneo Professional Schools, Rockwell, Makati City, 6 October 2015.
• Speaker, “Future Now: The Apocalypse Project”, Institute for the Future, Palo Alto, 21 September 2015.
• Speaker, “Apocalypse Project: Ideas for a Hotter Planet”, swissnex San Francisco, 18 September 2015
• Exhibitor, “Network Ecologies Symposium”, University of Hull, Scarborough, UK, 4-6 June 2015.
• Speaker/Panelist, “Stage the Future 2: The Second International Conference on Science Fiction Theatre”, Ontologies of Being, Ontologies of Imagining, Tempe, Arizona, 6 March 2015.

2014
• Panelist, “Innovators Forum: Convergence in Arts and Sciences”, Science Day, Digital Art Weeks International, Seoul, 11 October 2014
• Artist Talk, Emotion Engineering Program, Sangmyung University, Seoul, 30 September 2014

2013
• “Negotiating Future Cities,” ArtScience Conversations, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 16 November 2013
• International Sculpture Festa, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center, 5 May 2013
• National Art Studio of Korea, Changdong, High School Docent Program, 23 February 2013, Seoul

2012
• Museo Pambata (Children’s Museum), 1 December 2012, Manila
• The Mind Museum, 23 September 2012, Manila
• TEDxNewHaven, 28 April 2012, Yale University
• School of Visual Arts, IN/VISION MFA Interaction Design Festival, 12 May 2012, New York
• Intrepid Museum, Camp GOALS (Greater Opportunities Advancing Leadership and Science) for Girls, February 2012, New York

EDUCATION

2010-2012 MFA Interaction Design, School of Visual Arts, New York (Student profile here)
2009-2010 International Art Workshop / Diploma in Contemporary Art, Metafora, Tallers d’Art i Artteràpia, Barcelona
2005-2007 Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York
2007 Comics and Sequential Art course, The Art Students League of New York
2001-2005  BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines, Manila
2001 Photography course, University of the Philippines, Film Center

AWARDS, GRANTS, RESIDENCIES, DISTINCTION

2022. Winner. Leaders by the Head & Heart (Environment category), The Asian Network and Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia
2021. Winner. Thirteen Artists Awards. Cultural Center of the Philippines
2021. Member. #TeamHB6 Homeward Bound. A leadership program for 10- women with a STEM background set in Antarctica for a 2022 expedition

2021 Resident. Sydney Observatory. (Link)
2020 Fellow. The Curator is the Weather. 68Art Institute, Copenhagen. (Link)
2020 Fellow (online). Saari Residence, One Foundation, Mynämäki, Finland (Link)
2020 Fellow (online). Space Art Summer School, Moscow Museum of Cosmonautics. (Link)
2020 Fellow. ColLaboratoire. Siargao Island, Philippines (Link)
2019-2020 Leader: Asia Pacific. Obama Foundation. (Link)
2019 Fellow. (Un)learning Place, Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) (selected from 332 applicants), Berlin, Germany
2018-2019 Fellow. Inaugural SEAΔ Leadership Program on Sustainable Development. Mekong Cultural Hub and the British Council (selected from >100 applicants), Various countries, Southeast Asia
2018 Artist-in-Residence. China Residencies. 5th Crystal Bell Ruth Residency (selected from 700 applicants), Beijing, China (Link)
2018 Featured Artist, Future Greats, ArtReview Asia (Link)
2018 Artist-in-Residence, Austrian Federal Chancellery and KulturKontakt Austria, (selected from 985 applicants), Vienna, April 6-June 30 2018 (Link)
2017 Artist Commission, The National Institute for Amazonian Research, Manaus, the Amazon, 30 July-6 August 2017
2017 Artist-in-Residence, LABVERDE, Artist Immersion Program in the Amazon, Manaus, Brazil, 20-29 July 2017
2017 Runner-up, Cultural Innovation International Prize, CCCB Barcelona
2017 Artist-in-Residence, Plan International, December 2016-June 2017
2016 Artist-in-Residence, Platohedro & Casa Tres Patios courtesy of Arts Collaboratory and the Ministry of Culture of Colombia, Medellin, June 6-July 6 (Link)
2016 Finalist, Bio Art & Design Award, The Hague, Netherlands
2015 Artist-in-Residence, Institute for the Future, September 2015-September
2015 Finalist, Creative Climate Awards 2015, Human Impacts Institute, NYC September
2014 Featured Artist, Open City / Art City Festival, co-organized by Institute for the Future and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 4 October
2014 Mind-in-Residence, The Mind Museum, Manila, Philippines
2013 Art Science Residency Programme, in partnership with ArtScience Museum™ at Marina Bay Sands, Tembusu College National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore-ETH Centre’s Future Cities Laboratory (Official press release via NUS here)
2013 Asia-Pacific Fellowship, The National Art Studio of Korea, Changdong (Artist Profile here)
2012 School of Visual Arts Alumni Society scholarship
2010 Fulbright scholarship to undertake MFA in Interaction Design at SVA
2005 Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University scholarship
2005 Magna cum laude, University of the Philippines, B.S Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
2005 Best thesis, “Site-Directed Mutagenesis, Cloning, and Comparative Expression of Two Antitumor Antibody Genes,” University of the Philippines, National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
2001 First Place and People’s Choice Award, Ateneo de Manila University Photography Competition

EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, EXPLORATIONS

2022
• “2021 Thirteen Artists Awards” group exhibition, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila

2021
• “Memoirs of the Abyss: The Three Ecologies and More” group exhibition at 68Art Institute Copenhagen.
• “Multispecies Visionary Institute” group exhibition at Gymnasium Gallery (Berwick, UK)
• “The Future We Want,” digital art campaign for C40 Cities.

2020
• “Stress Rehearsal,” das weisse haus, Vienna, October – present (exhbition extended due to COVID-19)
• “100 Offerings of Peace,” The Peace Studio, US, July-November 2020 (digital)

2019
• “Disposable,” (The Sewer Soaperie as SGM’s signature piece for Extrasensory ’19, National Science Week, Parliament of Victoria), Science Gallery Melbourne, Australia, 31 July to 1 September 2019

• “Depth,” Science Gallery Detroit, USA, forthcoming

• “Maslow’s Dream,” Embassy of Austria in Beijing, China, 27 March 2019

• Artists-in-Residence Group Show, Red Gate Gallery, 798 District, Beijing, China, 24 March 2019

2018
• Artists-in-Residence Group Show, Red Gate Gallery, 798 Art District, Beijing, China, 25 November 2018
• “Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design,” Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany 29 September 2018 onwards (5-year traveling exhibition)
• Artists-in-Residence Group Show, Austrian Federal Chancellery exhibition hall, Vienna, Austria, 11-22 June 2018
• Manila Biennale, “Open City,” Intramuros, Philippines, 3 February – 5 March 2018

2017
• “In Case of Emergency”, Science Gallery Dublin, 13 October 2017 to 11 February 2018, Dublin, Ireland
• “Child’s Play: Climate Change through the Eyes of Children,” 11th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA11), 22-29 June 2017, Kampala, Uganda

2016
• “The Apocalypse Project: Urban Harvest”, 1335Mabini, Manila, Philippines, 17 September to 14 October 2016 (Link)
• “Future Feast: Art and Science” (Banquete Futurista: Arte y Ciencia), Platohedro, Medellin, Colombia, 5 July 2016 (Link)
• “The Apocalypse Project: Urban Harvest”, Casa Tres Patios, Medellin, Colombia, 1 July 2016 (Link)

2015
• “Sustainability: Abundance of Life”, Bio-Arts Seoul 2015, Gwacheon National Science Museum, South Korea, 6 November 2015
• “The Apocalypse Project: House of Futures”, Future Gallery, Institute for the Future, Palo Alto, USA, 21 September 2015 to 15 April 2016
• “Forever Lab: Will You Still Love Me at 150?”, The Mind Museum, Manila, Philippines, 3 October 2015
• “Creative Climate Awards”, The Human Impacts Institute, New York City, USA, 21 September 2015

2014
• “Mobile Art Exhibition,” Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul, South Korea, October 10-15
• “Hybrid Highlights”, Seoul National University Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea, 8 October to December (Link here and here)
• “Open City Art City” Festival organized by the Institute for the Future and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California, USA, 4 October (Link here)
• “Future Feast”, The Mind Museum, Manila, Philippines, 26 July 2014
• “The Apocalypse Project: Imagined Futures”, solo exhibition, The Mind Museum, Manila, Philippines, April-July 2014

2013
• Sunday Showcase, ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 10 November 2013 (More information here)
• “Earth Harmony,” Pyeong Chang Biennale 2013, July 20 to August 30, Alpensia Resort, Gangwon, South Korea (Link here)
• “Asian Students and Young Artists Art Festival,” July 23 to August 18, Culture Station Seoul 284, South Korea (Link here)
• “Seoul Seoul Seoul,” The National Art Studio of Korea, Changdong, Seoul, South Korea (Link here)
• “Sculpture! Make You Dream,” International Sculpture Festa 2013, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center, South Korea (Link here)
• “The Portfolio Exhibition,” Savina Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, South Korea

2012
• The Mind Museum, Manila, Philippines
• IN/VISION The MFA Interaction Design Festival Exhibition, School of Visual Arts, New York
• The Bowery Poetry Club New York

2011
• New York Poetry Festival
• The Poetry Brothel New York
• Rorsketch, New York, rorsketch.com
• DrawHappy, Reykjavik, drawhappy.org

2010
• Prostíbulo Poético Barcelona
• Metafora End –of-Year Exhibition, Barcelona
• In Vitro, Untitled BCN Gallery, Barcelona
• Prostíbulo Poético Barcelona
• Prostíbulo Poético Barcelona

2009
• Prostíbulo Poético Barcelona
• Des de Fora (From the Outside), Barcelona
• Expressa’t, Badalona, Barcelona
• M33&1: Metafora Winter Exhibition, Ambit Dona, Barcelona
• Conocer Antes de Juzgar (Know Before You Judge), HIV/AIDS Exhibition, Barcelona

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2001-present artist, designer, speaker, and writer
2017 Steering advisor, Bio Art Seoul 2017
2015 Jan to Jun Experience designer, “A Glass of the Sea,” traveling exhibition in collaboration with The Mind Museum Manila, The California Academy of the Sciences, and USAID
2001-present Correspondent / contributor, Philippine Daily Inquirer
2010-2012 Graduate teaching assistant, Introduction to Cybernetics and the Design of Systems and Entrepreneurial Design, School of Visual Arts, New York
2011 Design and research intern, American Museum of Natural History, Department of Exhibition and Interactives, New York
2011 Cybernetics / systems design intern, Dubberly Design Office and Cybernetic Lifestyles, New York
2009-2011 Poet / performer, The Poetry Brothels, Barcelona and New York
2005-2007 Research assistant, various developmental and neurobiological labs, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York

SKILLS
• visual and media arts: illustration, installation, photography, fashion design, perfumery, video
• languages: English and Filipino (native), Spanish and Portuguese (intermediate), German and Mandarin (basic)
• design and web: wireframing, graphic design, layout, rapid prototyping, user experience
research, entrepreneurship, HTML, data visualization, 3D printing
• public speaking, workshop facilitation, feature writing, interviewing
• wet lab: DNA techniques (e.g. extraction, PCR, cloning, sequencing), protein techniques (e.g. Western blot, mass spectrometry), microbiology techniques, small mammalian systems (embryonic and brain dissection), tissue techniques (sectioning, immunostaining), microscopy techniques

OTHERS
• martial arts and self-defense, 2nd degree black belt, World Taekwondo Federation
• class valedictorian, Immaculate Conception Academy, Manila, 2001

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