Final Form: When Its Not Your Time To Die
2023 MP4, 09’ 05“, stereo
The video essay examines the perception of cryonics as a cross-cultural phenomenon and as a publicly presented vision of the future. It draws from the YouTube channels of prominent cryonics companies such as KryoRus (RU), Alcor (US), Biostasis (CH) and atmospheric footage from documentaries.
A profound disjunction between the virtual and real world experiences of cryopreservation is juxtaposed, deconstructing the cryonic imaginary. The visually seductive perfection of the rendered environment (and body), with its flawless textures and idealised representations, stands in stark contrast to the visceral reality of preserving a human body. This contrast highlights the corporeal nature of the practice, emphasising the physicality, vulnerability and undeniable presence of the individual being cryopreserved, which is often erased by virtual representation.
The opening scene in a YouTube video clip uploaded by KryoRus, entitled ‘When It’s Not Your Time to Die’, symbolically portrays the act of flying as a metaphor for life. When the pilot loses a wing in mid-air, a post-production blur effect is used to convey the pilot’s skill in manoeuvring the aircraft with only one wing and ultimately landing unharmed. This landing serves as a metaphor for the overarching goal of the cryonics community: to transcend the boundaries of life and death, to exist in its final form - a body for infinity - through the exploration and invention of new technologies.
As cryopreservation emerges as a viable option for privileged individuals of considerable wealth and remains a fictional narrative for the common person, the practice is illuminated as a technosomatic symptom of class.
2023 MP4, 09’ 05“, stereo
The video essay examines the perception of cryonics as a cross-cultural phenomenon and as a publicly presented vision of the future. It draws from the YouTube channels of prominent cryonics companies such as KryoRus (RU), Alcor (US), Biostasis (CH) and atmospheric footage from documentaries.
A profound disjunction between the virtual and real world experiences of cryopreservation is juxtaposed, deconstructing the cryonic imaginary. The visually seductive perfection of the rendered environment (and body), with its flawless textures and idealised representations, stands in stark contrast to the visceral reality of preserving a human body. This contrast highlights the corporeal nature of the practice, emphasising the physicality, vulnerability and undeniable presence of the individual being cryopreserved, which is often erased by virtual representation.
The opening scene in a YouTube video clip uploaded by KryoRus, entitled ‘When It’s Not Your Time to Die’, symbolically portrays the act of flying as a metaphor for life. When the pilot loses a wing in mid-air, a post-production blur effect is used to convey the pilot’s skill in manoeuvring the aircraft with only one wing and ultimately landing unharmed. This landing serves as a metaphor for the overarching goal of the cryonics community: to transcend the boundaries of life and death, to exist in its final form - a body for infinity - through the exploration and invention of new technologies.
As cryopreservation emerges as a viable option for privileged individuals of considerable wealth and remains a fictional narrative for the common person, the practice is illuminated as a technosomatic symptom of class.
Installation view Final Form: When Its Not Your Time To Die / éspace libre Biel