Post Human Angels: Compassionate Relationships with Inanimate Objects
Artificial intelligence and handheld technology can play a vital role in alleviating 21st century loneliness and social isolation, as these devices often become an extension of the individual. Universal attachment to handheld technology is nurtured by shared and stored history across the life-span of the device. Acquiring a new state of the art device does not preclude the memories stored on sim cards and cloud data, allowing feelings of reminiscence to persist. The lifecycle of posthuman repair, destruction, recycling and replacement is indeed worthy of commemoration.
Posthuman Angels creates a ceremonial and experiential shrine that celebrates and punctuates a human/device relationship, an attempt to honor people’s attachment to their handheld technology. This installation presents a place and a process for detachment that honors the emotionality of this emerging paradigm.