Svenja Kratz, Bill Hart and Dietmar Hutmacher

What constitutes identity and the self? How could consciousness be altered if transferred into a machine or alternative technological body?

Monument to Immortality comments on the human desire to control the elements and nature in order to find the secret to eternal life.

At the centre of the monument, a bioreactor showcases scaffolds in the shape of different body parts, seeded with human cells and visible via live video footage. The pyramid at the top of the monument includes a hologram that references the concept of the soul or spirit as a vital force of life. The monument incorporates historical and alchemical symbols such as the Philosopher's Stone and the Transhumanist belief that science and technology will enable humans to evolve beyond their present form.

The work invites the viewer to question their own position towards engineered immortality. Is eternal life possible or are we being sold an impossible dream? How would you improve your body or cognitive capabilities via technology if you had the choice?

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