Neil Harbisson

Trailblazer Neil Harbisson is an award-winning cyborg artist and was the first person to have an antenna implanted their skull. For nearly 20 years, he has been described as the world’s first legally recognised cyborg. To this end, he co-founded the Cyborg Foundation and the Transpecies Society. Through his art and his activism, he raises awareness around transpecies rights. He frequently collaborates with fellow cyborg artist and longtime friend, Moon Ribas and has appeared in numerous documentaries and on various TV shows all over the world. His art has been exhibited all over Europe and America, winning many prizes.

Born in Britain but raised in Barcelona, Harbisson has identified as a cyborg for many years — he feels that he is technology and not 100% human. By having an antenna surgically implanted, he is able to perceive colours both visible and invisible via audible vibrations in his skull. Through an internet connection, he can also receive media and phone calls directly into his head. He also has a Bluetooth tooth through which he can communicate in more-code with his collaborator, Moon Ribas, who also has such a tooth.

Unsurprisingly, Harbisson’s individuality, as well as his art, have found him a huge audience. He currently has over 192,000 followers on Instagram (although at the time of writing, his account is set to private) and 11,000 followers on Twitter. But most importantly, Harbisson is a distinguished artist with a track record that many of his contemporaries would kill for. His activism work is also putting across important ideas that may come to seem commonplace in years to come.