Dialyseart

Dialyseart is a term used to describe artistic practices and critical discussions that engage with dialysis treatment, kidney disease, and the technologies surrounding life-sustaining medical care. It functions as an umbrella label rather than a single formal movement, encompassing works that take dialysis as subject, use dialysis-related objects as medium, or address the patient experience and care systems from an artistic perspective. Projects labeled as Dialyseart vary widely, including installations that incorporate dialysis machines, performances conducted during treatment sessions, and documentary or autobiographical media such as photography and video.

Origins and scope: The term appears in art criticism and medical humanities to explore how long-term dialysis reshapes time, embodiment, and autonomy. It is often associated with collaborative practices that involve patients, caregivers, and clinicians, aiming to foreground patient agency and the social dimensions of care.

Themes and media: Common concerns include embodiment and vulnerability, the temporality of treatment, dependence on technology, and the ethics of medical environments. Media span sculpture and installation, video, performance, sound, and community workshops. Ethical considerations emphasize informed consent, privacy, and minimizing emotional or physical burden on participants.

Impact and reception: Within scholarship, Dialyseart is discussed as a lens to illuminate hidden aspects of chronic illness and care. It contributes to medical humanities by provoking dialogue about dignity, resource allocation, and the human dimensions of dialysis.