The four ways of diagnosis are thought highly of in the Chinese medicine, observation, auscultation and olfaction, interrogation, and palpation (Qiè). Here Qiè refers to pulse diagnosis. As an artist-acupuncturist, Michelle Lewis-King works in the intersection of art, science and anthropology. She utilises Chinese pulse diagnosis in her work as a means of reconsidering notions of the ‘body’ to reflect a more intercultural and nonmodern vision of being. At the same time, Lewis-King uses touch to re-examine contemporary notions of techne. In 2011, Lewis-King initiated Pulse Project, an ongoing performance research series that draws upon her experience of practicing acupuncture within the contexts of the western biomedical clinic. In this lecture Lewis-King will demonstrate how she creates unique soundscapes through pulse diagnosis of the audiences. Chinese pulse diagnosis is not simply counting the pulses but provide the artist with a much richer picture —— the graphic notation seems like musical notes, the rhythm has musicality to it. Lewis-King’s personal experience is very interesting. She was once trained professionally in fine art as sculptor for almost a decade before 2001. Around 2002, she entered the field of biomedicine and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) in 2005. Since then, she has started the other career as acupuncturist for another decade. In 2017, she completed her Ph.D. at the Cambridge College of Art/Anglia Ruskin University and is currently an educator, active in the interdisciplinary field of art, science and technology. In the lecture, she will share her rich experiences as an artist, acupuncturist and educator.
