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25/10/2006

Michael Najjar

Bitforms Gallery, New York

The work series bionic angel takes as its starting point the future transformation and technological control of human evolution.

Rapid development in the field of so-called "g-r-i-n technologies" (genetics, robotics, information and nano-technologies) are changing our bodies, minds, memories, and identities, but also impact on our progeny.

These technologies all converge with the aim of enhancing human performance. prenatal genetic determination enables children to be built to plan. clone bodies become depositories for ersatz organs whilst manipulation of atomic structure creates new bodies which far outstrip the old ones in terms of robustness, elasticity and durability. the new bodies are adapted to the needs of the high-speed data highway. these developments based on genetic algorithms and neuronal networks mean that biological evolution can now be controlled; they open up the way to a new and superior form of existence for the human being.

Such acts of transgression were already implicit in the idealised body images of greek mythology which the italian renaissance adopted as the perfect expression of radical transformation in terms of the understanding of body, mind and science - secular man became a utopian promise.

Referring to such idealised body worlds from antiquity and the renaissance, the work series bionic angel takes up themes of metamorphosis from classical greek mythology as treated by the roman poet ovid. scenarios of creatures in the throes of transformation articulate the inevitability of genetic self-creation in the future of human history. the moment of metamorphosis itself serves as the key metaphor for the technology-driven transformation of the human body in its future post human and possibly immortal existence.

Opening: october 26, 6pm - 8pm

Bitforms Gallery
529 West 20th street - New York
Tues-Sat 10am-6pm

stampa

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