function Glove(sineflower)
Heidegger was concerned that technology can reduce everything to a standing reserve or a resource to be exploited, thus obscuring the intrinsic value of things and our genuine connection with them, yet he doesn’t necessarily label technology as inherently negative. Instead, he invites us to reflect on the nature and consequences of technology in our lives. While a web browser (which is where this work takes place) can enframe information and potentially detach us from the deeper meanings and contexts of what we encounter, it also offers valuable opportunities for communication, learning, and interaction, and I wonder what it is to engage with technology in a way that aligns with our authentic understanding of the world and our place within it.
The boundaries between philosophy and art practice often blur, leading to captivating journeys of exploration and discovery. This USB device is such a venture, delving into mamasoul thinking and manifesting as a tactile, digital odyssey that is a function of “the other hand”. It serves as a reminder that when our hands caress a touchscreen, they become agents of connection and understanding, conduits through which we interact with the world, whether that world is made of atoms or bits. Bzzt.
This piece was shown in FIRST HAND at Flat Time House, London
29 September – 5 November 2023 Download a PDF of the show.
/ORIGIN\FORWARD/SLASH\ is a group of artists and philosophers with an interest in the work of Heidegger. I have been a satellite member of the group since making their website in 2020. Link to site here.