Overview

In the digital era, our identity is shaped or even confirmed through an endless stream of images, not only from human hands but also from machines. These images, taken without human intent or intervention, encapsulate moments often overlooked—capturing the essence of life at its most unguarded.

Non-human photography offers a unique point of view into our world, free from the human subjective bias. Each image, unchosen and captured at random, presents a genuine portrayal of modern humanity—a sincere reflection of life itself.

Through the Post-Humanism Archive, we delve into this uncharted territory, exploring photography devoid of human influence. In this archive lies the most objective portrayal of our existence, serving as an indisputable testament to human existence and life in general.

The term “nonhuman photography”, as described in the book “The Creative Power of Nonhuman Photography” by Joanna Zylinska, reshapes our approach to photography. Zylinska challenges traditional human-centric views, urging us to explore the creative potential of imagery captured without direct human intervention. Her work prompts us to consider the role of technology and ethics in shaping our visual culture. Zylinska’s pioneering perspective guides our exploration of nonhuman photography’s transformative impact on contemporary visual expression.

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Output

For the purpose of this installation, we envision the perspective of an external observer absorbing the media we generate from the cameras we deploy to surveil ourselves and our surroundings, ultimately creating the most sincere archive of modern humanity.

In this scenario, we contemplate how non-human entities interpret the vast array of imagery we produce. From surveillance footage to candid snapshots, each piece of media captures moments both mundane and extraordinary, offering a glimpse into the essence of contemporary life.

The installation consists of an ever-evolving, dense grid of images, projected on a wall located inside a dark space. The images displayed are all photos that were taken by machines without or with minimum human intervention. The grid is constantly moving and updating as the machine capture and analyses more and more images. The invisible process of the machine is also signaled by an immersive soundscape of synthesizer. The sound is also the first feedback that the visitor receives, even before entering the room.

The visitor will be able to interact with the installation by deciding the number of images displayed at a time, and if to set the grid to display images or their respective metadata.

The goal of the installation is to put the visitor in front of the invisible and overwhelming processes of the algorithms that watch upon us, acting as a reflection of ourselves as human society and the landscapes we move within.