SYNTHUMANS

As technology and artificial intelligence grow exponentially and becomes more human-like, we are starting to realize how human flaws and biases are being reproduced in artificial intelligence and robotics. There are already serious consequences on the perception of self and in the representation of roles.

SYNTHUMANS is a reaction to Japanese gender roles and their reflection on android development, from a western biased perception. We peek in a possible near-future in Tokyo, a future where women follow the new beauty standard that is set by the increasingly present service and entertainment androids. The project was developed over a 10 days visit to Tokyo as part of the ECAL Master program, and it has been exhibited in a pop-up show.

The white porcelain masks are digitally created from 3D scans of the actreesses, and represent a status in between organic and digital, life and death. Referencing the death mask, they symbolize a post-human condition of immortality through a digital mold that enables the potential to infinite reproductions. The vast majority of woman service androids suggested that women will be the first to be affected by the negative implication of the obsessive run for real-life likeness in robotics.