Transhumanist art – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Transhumanist art is an art movement which focuses on the concept of transhumanity, a transitional stage in a perceived progression from human to transhuman to posthuman. Transhumanist art claimed a role for artists as purveyors of futuristic aspiration and visionary thinking in an era of scientific and technological challenge,[1] questioning traditional roles of the artist, the era of modern art and conventional aesthetics. Instead its proponents advocate a future-oriented aesthetics, often reflecting transdisciplinary works in art, science and technology.

Transhumanist Arts is an art period reflecting creative works of transhumanity. Just as Modern Art represents much of the arts of the 20th Century, Transhumanist Arts covers the late 20th Century into the 21st Century. The Transhumanist Arts period coalesces arts, sciences and technologies in reflecting the efforts of transhumans in enhancing and augmenting our minds and bodies as we strive for superlongevity and ultimately indefinite lifespans. The ideas generated by those whose work is transhumanist in scope, exemplifies the content of the transhumanist culture and is generated through many modes, from painting to New Media, and modes yet to be discovered.[2]

As a consequence of its philosophical foundations, transhumanist art emphasizes the message of the art works over the mediums used by artists in producing their works. In this regard, transhumanist art reflects the ideas of Marshall McLuhan that humans are extending themselves and their bodies through technology.

Artists and the arts, throughout history, have been a voice and a vision of civilization. Artists, as communicators, reach out to others and introduce insight and vision about society and culture. Artists and the arts bring together the passions, the dreams and the hopes of humanity and transhumanity and express these emotions in ways that touch us deeply.

The art works of transhumanist art reflect a proactive vision of the future, stemming from both science fiction and traditional fiction.

[Transhumanist Arts] is in general optimistic, creative, combining intelligence and emotion in unexpected ways and is future-directed instead of backward-looking. Especially important is the automorphism sub-movement, which seeks to make self-transformation and living itself into art. On the other hand it should not be confused with techno and futurist art, which it overlaps with.

Transhumanist artworks include traditional art practices such as painting,[3]printmaking, and sculpture; in multi-media, digital, virtual reality simulations, Internet art, electronic art and robotics; in moving images of videography and filmmaking; in literature through poetry[4] and fiction; in music through real-time compositions and digitized electronic or synthesized compositions;[5] and in conceptual art and exploratory practices coalescing artificial intelligence (AI), artificial general intelligence (AGI), and nanotechnology.

Transhumanist art can include product design[citation needed], industrial design[citation needed] and architecture[6] as well as the works of scientists,[7]engineers[citation needed] and innovators[citation needed] whose goals are transhumanist in scope.

Transhumanist art was first recognized in 1979 when the 8mm short independent film Breaking Away was exhibited at the University of Colorado's Film Studies Program.[citation needed]Stan Brackage, noted independent filmmaker of the 1970-1980s, was an influence on the cinematographic style of Breaking Away.[citation needed] The storyline of Breaking Away themes human evolution as breaking away from biological restraints and the Earth's gravity as humanity moves into space. The performance art piece was written and performed by Natasha Vita-More at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Don Yannacito, Director of Film Studies Program for independent filmmakers, filmed the performance.[8]

In 1983 a Transhuman Statement, a statement of arts for the future by Vita-More and FM-2030, established a poetic doctrine of transhumanist expression.[9]

Read more here:
Transhumanist art - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia