Charlotte Jarvis with Christine Mummery, Christian Freund & Harold Mikkers

Ergo Sum

In collaboration with Netherlands Proteomics Centre

What makes us human, what is the source of our identity, and how will we be required to change these definitions in the future?

For her project Ergo Sum, Charlotte Jarvis donated blood, skin and urine to Prof. Dr. Christine Mummery’s stem cell research laboratory at the University of Leiden. These donations have been transformed into stem cells, which in turn can be programmed to grow into cells with completely different functions such as heart-, brain- and vascular cells. The result is a sort of biological self-portrait; a second self, a doppelgänger.

Ergo Sum includes brain cells, heart cells and blood vessels, developed from Charlotte’s stem cells. All of these are biologically and genetically ‘Charlotte’ although also ‘alien’ to her – as they have never actually been inside her body. In addition copies of Charlotte’s stem cells are being kept by the university to use in their research. These pieces of Charlotte can be stored for an unlimited period, making them immortal.

Ergo Sum raises questions such as: what makes us human, what is the source of our identity, and how will we be required to change these definitions in the future?
Charlotte uses herself – even her physical body – to initiate further discussion of stem cell technology and to challenge prejudices and misunderstandings.