"In the 21st century, the most pressing question may well be, 'What do we want to become?" This query, posed by Yuval Noah Harari in Homo Deus: a brief history of tomorrow, deeply resonates with my artistic exploration of the human condition and evolution within the framework of posthumanism. My project – entitled “Post-human identity through hybrid media” – delves into the future of human identity as shaped by escalating technological advancements. Drawing inspiration from Harari's visionary outlook, I examine the intricate interplay of human motives, ethics and the increasing influence of technologies that could surpass human capabilities.
Central to my inquiry is the question: Where are we heading? My sculptures and mixed media works probe the complexities of human thought and desire; particularly our drive to survive, dominate and control, which may come at the expense of others. From a Freudian perspective, I view humans as survival specialists, propelled by the need for power and dominance. This project navigates the tension between humanity's aspiration to do good and the temptation to misuse powerful tools like artificial intelligence (AI), which not only has the potential to exceed human capacities, but also to abet our darker instincts. My scepticism about the moral compass of humanity is echoed in the works of the Dada and Surrealism movements, which have significantly influenced my approach to art.
Yuval Noah Harari's contemplation in Homo Deus aptly reflects this tension: “In pursuit of health, happiness, and power, humans will gradually change first one of their features and then another, and another, until they will no longer be human”. We possess immense capacity for growth and innovation’ yet we also face the risk of self-destruction – a stark reality captured by Viktor Frankl, when he remarks: “Man is that being which invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord's Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips”.
My artworks are designed to provoke thoughtful reflection of the consequences of our ambitions and to question how we navigate our relationship with technology – both as a catalyst for progress and a potential accomplice in ethical compromise.
Through my art, I explore post-human identity by hybridising traditional art mediums with digital techniques. The theme “Post-human identity through hybrid media” focusses on human enhancement, balancing the positive potential of advancements like transhumanism and the quest for immortality against the risks of superhuman dominance and unchecked greed. These concerns necessitate a nuanced, ethical consideration. The project also contemplates how technological interventions may reshape human identity, potentially reducing diversity, and reflects on the coexistence of evolution and creation[8], suggesting that both perspectives can inform our understanding of the future.
Ethical issues regarding access to enhancements, equality and the essence of humanity emerge – particularly as power dynamics threaten to deepen existing inequalities. While exploring these broader issues, the project remains deeply personal, drawing on my experiences and observations of the human condition and survival in the work and business environment. This project challenges viewers to reflect on the nature of humanity (“the obscured facets of human nature and kindness”), the evolution of human identity, and its implications for our future and that of our children.
Corrie van der Wath is a Johannesburg-based artist whose work explores the intricate interplay between humanity and technology, with a particular focus on the theme of post-human identity. Grounded in both natural sciences and psychoanalytical theory, Van der Wath's practice reflects a unique merging of traditional art mediums with digital techniques, thereby symbolising the fusion of biological humanity and the evolving influence of technology.
Exploring the theme “Post-human identity through hybrid media”, the exhibition is strongly inspired by Yuval Noah Harari's Homo Deus and the concept of evolution. Van der Wath’s sculptures and mixed-media works, which feature water, ink, paint and glue, symbolise the unpredictability of life and the forces of controlled evolution. Once digitised, the works transform into metaphors for the merging of human and technological futures, reflecting the ethical and philosophical questions of our time.
Through the lens of Freudian psychology and post-humanist theory, Van der Wath's works question humanity's impulses toward survival, dominance and control. The tension between the desire for progress and the darker temptation of power is central to his exploration. In this light, the works invite viewers’ critical engagement with the themes of transhumanism, the ethical boundaries of AI advancements and the potential impact of these advancements on human identity.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Frikkie Eksteen and Marlene Dumas, Van der Wath's art confronts identity, mortality and the human condition with a raw intensity. By embracing both the romantic and melancholic sides of existence, the artist’s work offers a profound reflection on humanity’s quest to transcend its limitations, while pushing the boundaries of what it means to be human in the post-human age.
Corrie van der Wath
Johannesburg
Unit 27 Barbeque Bend
Hyperion Road
Kyalami Midrand
1684
By appointment only