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.