When the Machine Consumes Us | session nov. 2016

The image falls within a growing trend in contemporary digital art that explores the complex and often problematic relationship between humanity and technology. From the utopian visions of cyberpunk in the 80s, with authors like William Gibson and his novel Neuromancer, to the more critical reflections of posthumanism, art has served as a space to imagine and question the future of our species in an increasingly technological world. The concept of humans as parasites of technology reverses the traditional narrative of technological progress as a liberating force. Instead of empowering us, technology becomes an entity that consumes, transforms, and subjugates us.

This theme resonates with philosophical debates about technological singularity, a hypothetical point in the future when technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting ¹ in unpredictable changes for human civilization. Artists like Hito Steyerl, with her work on the circulation of images in the digital age, and collectives like Metahaven, with their explorations of online geopolitics, have contributed to this reflection on the impact of technology on society and subjectivity. The presented image adds to this conversation, offering a dystopian vision of an unbalanced symbiosis between man and machine.

Title: “When the Machine Consumes Us”

Description: The image presents an abstract composition dominated by intense magenta and purple tones, with touches of black and white that generate contrast. A superposition of angular geometric shapes and fragmented lines converging towards a diffuse central point can be observed. These shapes seem to intertwine and overlap, creating a sense of dynamism and controlled chaos. The overall texture is complex, with areas that suggest fractured metallic or crystalline surfaces, combined with softer and blurred areas that could evoke organic tissues. The image lacks recognizable human figures, but the interaction of the shapes suggests a tension between the organic and the artificial, which reinforces the idea of a symbiosis between humans and technology. The style is reminiscent of certain works of generative art and fractal art, although with a greater expressive charge and a more saturated color palette.

Software: Blender + Gimp.

Author: Marco Antonio P.R.

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