Hox Zodiac is a long-term collaborative project developed with neuroscientist Dr. Siddharth Ramakrishnan that connects genetics, mythology, and food through participatory dinner performances. Drawing inspiration from the Hox gene—shared by all animals—the work invites guests to embody the animal designated to them by their year of birth, exploring kinship across species through the act of eating. Participants bring dishes representing their animal—choosing whether to eat or be eaten—and share the stories and associations they bring to the table. Each meal becomes a dialogue about the science of genetic engineering, the ethics of consumption, and the meaning of food across cultures. Moving away from astrological superstition, Hox Zodiac reframes the zodiac as a model for interspecies empathy grounded in biology. Hosted internationally for over a decade, it continues to evolve as a social experiment in empathy, ecology, and reflection on nourishment and connection.

Watch more videos of Hox Zodiac on Vimeo and the Hox Zociac Youtube Channel