Saliva

We have now been trained to regularly swab, spit, and give up ownership of our bodily substances to corporations and government run centers. These fluids hold the data of our DNA, personal information, and identity. Can I as an individual human embody the role of collection center? Can we take saliva exchange back into our own hands?

—Lauren Lee McCarthy

After reviewing the Terms Of Exchange, you will input some basic contact information to receive your specimen exchange kit in the mail within 1-2 weeks. Once you receive the kit with your specimen, you will receive a sample of the artist’s own saliva in the mail 2-4 weeks later. At this time, kits can only be shipped to addresses in the United States.

Terms of Exchange

These are the terms of exchange:

1. Your saliva will not be used for research.
2. Your saliva will not be used to determine ancestry.
3. Your saliva will not be used by insurance providers.
4. Your saliva will not be used for reproduction of biological matter.
5. Your saliva will not be used for criminal tracing.
6. Your saliva will not be used to create weapons.
7. Your saliva may be publicly exhibited. No identifying information will be shared beyond what you enter on the saliva label.
8. Your saliva will be stored and preserved by the artist for as long as possible.
9. You may do what you like with the artist’s saliva.

Questions? Please email studio.laurenleemccarthy@gmail.com