Australian Artist Has Ear Growing Out Of Arm

A performance artist has had a third ear surgically attached to his arm and plans to connect it to the internet as part of his latest exploration of the human body.

Cypriot-born artist Stelarc, who has been working on this concept since 1996, finally found a medical team willing to perform the procedure in 2007. The ear, constructed with scaffolding placed beneath the skin of his arm, is a long-time vision that Stelarc has been eager to bring to life.

‘I’ve always got something up my sleeve,’ said Cyrpus-born artist Stelarc

Now based in Melbourne, Stelarc—whose real name is Stelios Arcadiou—plans to embed a small microphone in the ear, enabling it to broadcast live audio around the clock. The project, according to Stelarc, is a commentary on the increasingly connected world and the way technology reshapes human experience.

As the director of the Alternate Anatomies Laboratory at Curtin University, Stelarc explained that his previous attempt at this experiment was halted after an infection developed in his arm. Despite the setback, the 69-year-old artist remains committed to the project. He says the microphone will constantly be on, allowing people worldwide to tune in—except when he’s outside a Wi-Fi zone.

“This ear isn’t for me—I’ve got two perfectly good ears to hear with,” Stelarc said in an interview with ABC. “This ear is for remote listening. People from other locations can experience what it’s like to hear through this ear.”

Stelarc envisions a future where individuals can tap into the sensory experiences of others from around the globe. “Imagine being able to hear with the ears of someone in New York or see through the eyes of someone in London, all at the same time,” he added.

Six months after the initial surgery, tissue and blood vessels naturally grew around the new ear, giving it its own blood supply. The next step in the process is to lift the ear slightly from his arm and cultivate an earlobe.

Reflecting on the varied reactions to his work, Stelarc acknowledged the confusion and intrigue it often provokes. “People’s reactions range from amusement to bewilderment,” he said. “But I don’t expect everyone to understand the artistic aspect of it.”

As he humorously noted, “I’ve always got something up my sleeve—though, in this case, my sleeve is often rolled down.”