From Memento Mori to Immortalitas: Transhumanist Art in the Contemporary World

Betül Yıldırım

Article Details

From Memento Mori to Immortalitas: Transhumanist Art in the Contemporary World

Authors:

Betül Yıldırım

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Sistematik Felsefe (Diğer)

Journal:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 33, pp.170-189

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001329458

pISSN:

2667-4866

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The Latin memento mori emphasizes the need to remember the most important problem of existence. Since the medieval Christian faith was built on death, remember death means the awareness of what the priorities are. It is the awareness of turning away from the mundane and towards the divine. With this understanding, many philosophers and artists have used and still use memento mori in their books and works of art. But it is never easy to face the fact that one day we will die. Avoiding this confrontation causes people to dream of eternal life. Technological developments after the 1950s changed both our way of thinking and our understanding of art. Contemporary art emerges precisely from this change. Transhumanism and transhumanist art is a product of this change. Transhumanism as a system of thought is built on the dream of immortalitas immortality. For this reason, Transhumanist art can be read as a rebellion against memento mori. Stelarc, Lucy McRae, Neil Harbisson, Madeline Gins, Arakawa, Wafaa Bilal, Patricia Piccinini are among the remarkable names in this field. It would not be wrong to predict that transhumanist arts effort to transcend humanity will lead to the transformation of the new human being into an art object. Today, with all these developments, it is becoming increasingly difficult for human beings to face the fact that they are mortal. In the article, the reflections of the concept of death in art are discussed through the change experienced before and after the transhumanism movement, and a study has been conducted aiming to determine how and why the transition from memento mori to immortalitas through works of art.

 The Latin memento mori emphasizes the need to remember the most important problem of existence. Since the medieval Christian faith was built on death, remember death means the awareness of what the priorities are. It is the awareness of turning away from the mundane and towards the divine. With this understanding, many philosophers and artists have used and still use memento mori in their books and works of art. But it is never easy to face the fact that one day we will die. Avoiding this confrontation causes people to dream of eternal life. Technological developments after the 1950s changed both our way of thinking and our understanding of art. Contemporary art emerges precisely from this change. Transhumanism and transhumanist art is a product of this change. Transhumanism as a system of thought is built on the dream of immortalitas immortality. For this reason, Transhumanist art can be read as a rebellion against memento mori. Stelarc, Lucy McRae, Neil Harbisson, Madeline Gins, Arakawa, Wafaa Bilal, Patricia Piccinini are among the remarkable names in this field. It would not be wrong to predict that transhumanist arts effort to transcend humanity will lead to the transformation of the new human being into an art object. Today, with all these developments, it is becoming increasingly difficult for human beings to face the fact that they are mortal. In the article, the reflections of the concept of death in art are discussed through the change experienced before and after the transhumanism movement, and a study has been conducted aiming to determine how and why the transition from memento mori to immortalitas through works of art.

 The Latin memento mori emphasizes the need to remember the most important problem of existence. Since the medieval Christian faith was built on death, remember death means the awareness of what the priorities are. It is the awareness of turning away from the mundane and towards the divine. With this understanding, many philosophers and artists have used and still use memento mori in their books and works of art. But it is never easy to face the fact that one day we will die. Avoiding this confrontation causes people to dream of eternal life. Technological developments after the 1950s changed both our way of thinking and our understanding of art. Contemporary art emerges precisely from this change. Transhumanism and transhumanist art is a product of this change. Transhumanism as a system of thought is built on the dream of immortalitas immortality. For this reason, Transhumanist art can be read as a rebellion against memento mori. Stelarc, Lucy McRae, Neil Harbisson, Madeline Gins, Arakawa, Wafaa Bilal, Patricia Piccinini are among the remarkable names in this field. It would not be wrong to predict that transhumanist arts effort to transcend humanity will lead to the transformation of the new human being into an art object. Today, with all these developments, it is becoming increasingly difficult for human beings to face the fact that they are mortal. In the article, the reflections of the concept of death in art are discussed through the change experienced before and after the transhumanism movement, and a study has been conducted aiming to determine how and why the transition from memento mori to immortalitas through works of art.

 Latince memento mori varoluşa dair en önemli problemin hatırlanması gerekliliğinin vurgusudur. Orta Çağ Hristiyan inancı ölüm üzerine inşa edildiğinden ölümü hatırla, önceliklerin ne olduğunun farkındalığı anlamına gelir. Bu, dünyevi olandan uzaklaşmanın ve ilahi olana yönelmenin farkındalığıdır. Bu anlayışla pek çok filozof ve sanatçı memento moriyi hem kitaplarında hem de sanat eserlerinde kullanmıştır ve hala kullanmaktadır. Fakat bir gün öleceğimiz gerçeğiyle yüzleşmek hiç kolay değildir. Bu yüzleşmeden kaçınma, insanın sonsuz yaşamı hayal etmesine neden olur. 1950lerden sonra yaşanan teknolojik gelişmeler hem düşünme biçimimizi hem de sanat anlayışımızı değişime uğratmıştır. Çağdaş sanat tam da bu değişimden doğar. Transhümanizm ve transhümanist sanat bu değişimin bir ürünüdür. Transhümanizm bir düşünce sistemi olarak immortalitas ölümsüzlük hayali üzerine inşa edilir. Bu sebeple transhümanist sanat, memento moriye bir başkaldırı olarak okunabilir. Stelarc, Lucy McRae, Neil Harbisson, Madeline Gins, Arakawa, Wafaa Bilal, Patricia Piccinini bu alanda dikkat çeken isimlerdendir. Transhümanist sanatın insanlığı aşma çabasının neticesinde yeni insanın birer sanat nesnesine dönüşmesine yol açacağını öngörmek yanlış olmaz.. Günümüzde tüm bu gelişmelerle birlikte insanın ölümlü olduğu gerçeğiyle yüzleşmesi giderek zorlaşmaktadır. Makalede, ölüm kavramının sanattaki yansımaları transhümanizm akımının öncesi ve sonrası yaşanan değişim üzerinden tartışılarak memento moriden immortalitasa geçişin nasıl ve neden olduğunu, sanat eserleri üzerinden tespit etmeyi amaçlayan bir çalışma yapılmıştır.

Article Details

From Memento Mori to Immortalitas: Transhumanist Art in the Contemporary World

Authors:

Betül Yıldırım

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Sistematik Felsefe (Diğer)

Journal:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 33, pp.170-189

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001329458

pISSN:

2667-4866

Contemporary art

transhumanism

transhumanist art

memento mori

immortalitasÇağdaş sanat

transhümanizm

transhümanist sanat

memento mori

immortalitas

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Betül Yıldırım

Publisher: Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics: Sistematik Felsefe (Diğer)

Journal: Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 33, pp.170-189

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001329458

pISSN: 2667-4866

Issues

Authors:

Betül Yıldırım

Publisher:

Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University

Main Topics:

Sistematik Felsefe (Diğer)

Journal:

Akademi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.11 Issue 33, pp.170-189

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001329458

pISSN:

2667-4866