Family Tree

Takes as its inspiration the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman, whose cells were harvested and cultivated without her consent after her death from cervical cancer in the 1950s. The so-called HeLa cells have been vital to studying disease and have even contributed to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines. Using the Lacks story as a springboard, this site responsive production is a powerful exploration around the themes of ethics in healthcare, racism, the environment and a woman’s right to autonomy over her own body.