Robot Pioneer, Masahiko Inami, Joins Performance Artist, Stelarc, At Melbourne’s National Communication Museum

The National Communication Museum in Melbourne will bring together two leading figures in human augmentation and robotics for a rare public conversation next week.

Japanese roboticist, Professor Masahiko Inami, the researcher behind the JIZAI Body Project, will join Australian performance artist, Stelarc, at the Hawthorn-based museum on Tuesday 3 March for a discussion on the future of wearable robotics, body augmentation and embodied intelligence.

The event is expected to draw interest from technology researchers, artists and those working at the intersection of computing and the human body.

A roboticist rethinking the human form

Professor Inami is visiting Melbourne to discuss how wearable robotics and human-augmentation technologies are changing the possibilities of the human body. His research focuses on achieving greater integration between humans and machines, exploring how bodies might adapt to future environments.

His JIZAI ARMS – supernumerary robotic limbs designed to extend human capability – are currently on display as part of the museum’s exhibition FRIEND. The limbs are designed to free the body to perform beyond its natural limits, adding functional appendages that work alongside the wearer’s own arms.

“I’m excited to share JIZAI ARMS with Australian audiences at NCM,” Professor Inami explained. “My hope is that visitors experience a moment of wonder as the lines between human, tool and augmentation shift.”

“I hope they leave considering how technology can expand, not replace, our sense of self.”

Stelarc brings decades of body-focused practice

Joining Professor Inami in conversation will be Stelarc, the Australian artist whose practice over several decades has explored body augmentation through prosthetics, robotics and virtual systems. His work in performance and media art has consistently questioned assumptions about the physical limits of the human body.

Stelarc’s projects have ranged from robotic third arms and extended nervous systems to internet-connected bodies, positioning him as one of the most recognised figures globally working at the boundary of art and technology.

The pairing of the two speakers reflects a shared interest in body augmentation, technological embodiment and the evolving relationship between humans and machines – though they approach these questions from different disciplines.

The FRIEND exhibition

The conversation forms part of the National Communication Museum’s ongoing series exploring ideas at the forefront of robotics and embodied intelligence. It is being presented in conjunction with FRIEND, the museum’s current major exhibition curated by Senior Curator Jemimah Widdicombe.

FRIEND also features the museum’s research and development collaboration with Melbourne-based Cortical Labs. That company’s work in Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI) explores how biological neural cells can be integrated with computing systems to advance research, medicine and future technologies.

A growing institution

The National Communication Museum, located in Hawthorn, is a cultural and research institution exploring past, present and future technologies that connect people. Its scope ranges from telegraphs and postal systems through to artificial intelligence, robotics and biocomputing.

The museum has been expanding its programming around emerging technologies, with events like the Inami and Stelarc conversation reflecting a broader push to host public discussions on topics that sit at the crossroads of science, technology and culture.

Limited tickets available

The event will run from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 3 March, with doors opening at 6pm. Attendees will receive a complimentary glass of wine on arrival.

Only 30 tickets are available for purchase. Bookings can be made through the museum’s website at https://ncm.org.au/events/professor-inami-and-stelarc.

Last Updated on February 22, 2026 by Nick Ross