Teknolust (2002)

In the feature film Teknolust Lynn Hershman Leeson addresses themes such as identity, gender construction, sexual self-determination and the permeability of virtual reality. The plot revolves around scientist Rosetta Stone (played by Tilda Swinton), who illegally creates three clones of herself that differ only by the color of their clothing: Ruby wears red, Olive green and Marine dresses only in blue. These artificial beings constitute the family of their creator, who lives an isolated existence in an undefined cyberspace and communicates via the Internet. As the clones depend on obtaining the Y chromosome, femme fatale Ruby regularly goes out to have sex with random men. She collects their ejaculate, which she and the other clones then drink or inject into their bloodstream. After their contact with Ruby, the men become impotent and have a kind of allergic reaction. It is obviously a sexually transmitted disease, caused by a computer virus. The FBI soon becomes aware of the machinations of the clone family and begins to investigate.

With the costumes of the protagonists and a reconstruction of Ruby’s room, there will be presented main elements of the film in the exhibition »Civic Radar« at ZKM.