Imbroglio (or the ability to incorporate
possibilities)
Participating Artists: Naomi
Gilon, Nona Inescu, Lucia Leuci, Lito Kattou
Curated by Like A Little
Disaster
April 28th 2019 – June 20th 2019
Foothold / Like a Little Disaster
Via Cavour 68
70044 Polignano a Mare (BA)
Italy
Since its origins, human beings have been a hybrid, a
cultural chameleon hybridized with technical, animal and vegetal otherness.
Technology has already entered the body even before the postmodern era: the
shape of the hands has evolved based on the manipulation of external objects
and realities, as well as the other biological and cultural faculties have
developed on the basis of interspecific and intraspecific selective external
factors of competition and collaboration. Moreover, has evolved also on the basis of the possibility of
relating to the inanimate reality with which the human species has always had
relation. Like the form of the orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus), which,
depends on the establishment of the habitat, the material alterity and the
evolutionary-mutualistic partnership in its genetic code, so the collaboration
with the inanimate world and with the animal and vegetable alterity has been
established in the genetic code of our species, in our flesh (the technique
ment as strengthening, extension of faculties or senses) as well as in our
cultural productions. Human being is one of the most important shared projects
created by nature, which makes him a dependent organism by definition –
correlated and hybridized with natural otherness, abolishing any claim of
purity, uniqueness and platonic essentiality.
cultural chameleon hybridized with technical, animal and vegetal otherness.
Technology has already entered the body even before the postmodern era: the
shape of the hands has evolved based on the manipulation of external objects
and realities, as well as the other biological and cultural faculties have
developed on the basis of interspecific and intraspecific selective external
factors of competition and collaboration. Moreover, has evolved also on the basis of the possibility of
relating to the inanimate reality with which the human species has always had
relation. Like the form of the orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus), which,
depends on the establishment of the habitat, the material alterity and the
evolutionary-mutualistic partnership in its genetic code, so the collaboration
with the inanimate world and with the animal and vegetable alterity has been
established in the genetic code of our species, in our flesh (the technique
ment as strengthening, extension of faculties or senses) as well as in our
cultural productions. Human being is one of the most important shared projects
created by nature, which makes him a dependent organism by definition –
correlated and hybridized with natural otherness, abolishing any claim of
purity, uniqueness and platonic essentiality.
As amply demonstrated by the biologist Lynn Margulis; life
did not take over the world by combat, but by networking. The view of evolution
as a chronic bloody competition among individuals and species, a popular
distortion of Darwin’s notion of “survival of the fittest,” dissolves
before a new view of continual cooperation, strong interaction, and mutual
dependence among life forms. Life forms multiplied and complexified by
co-opting others, not just by killing them.
did not take over the world by combat, but by networking. The view of evolution
as a chronic bloody competition among individuals and species, a popular
distortion of Darwin’s notion of “survival of the fittest,” dissolves
before a new view of continual cooperation, strong interaction, and mutual
dependence among life forms. Life forms multiplied and complexified by
co-opting others, not just by killing them.
1+1=1
—
From the paramecium to the human race, all life forms
are meticulously organized, sophisticated aggregates of evolving microbial
life. Far from leaving microorganisms behind on an evolutionary
“ladder,” we are both surrounded by them and composed of them. Having
survived in an unbroken line from the beginnings of life, all organisms today
are equally evolved.
are meticulously organized, sophisticated aggregates of evolving microbial
life. Far from leaving microorganisms behind on an evolutionary
“ladder,” we are both surrounded by them and composed of them. Having
survived in an unbroken line from the beginnings of life, all organisms today
are equally evolved.
This realization sharply shows up the conceit and
presumption of attempting to measure evolution by linear progression from the
simple – so called lower – to the more complex (with humans as the absolute
“highest” forms at the top of the hierarchy).
But the simplest and most ancient organisms are not only the forebears and the present substrate of
Earth’s biota, but they are ready to expand and alter themselves and the rest
of life, should we “higher” organisms, be so foolish as to annihilate
ourselves. Next, the view of evolution
as chronic bloody competition among individuals and species, a popular
distortion of Darwin’s notion of “survival of the finest”, dissolves before a
new view of continual cooperation, strong interaction, and mutual dependence
among life forms.
presumption of attempting to measure evolution by linear progression from the
simple – so called lower – to the more complex (with humans as the absolute
“highest” forms at the top of the hierarchy).
But the simplest and most ancient organisms are not only the forebears and the present substrate of
Earth’s biota, but they are ready to expand and alter themselves and the rest
of life, should we “higher” organisms, be so foolish as to annihilate
ourselves. Next, the view of evolution
as chronic bloody competition among individuals and species, a popular
distortion of Darwin’s notion of “survival of the finest”, dissolves before a
new view of continual cooperation, strong interaction, and mutual dependence
among life forms.
Governed by DNA, the living cell can make a copy of
itself, defying death and maintaining its identity by reproducing. Yet by also
being susceptible to mutation, which randomly tinkers with identity, the cell
has the potential to survive change.
itself, defying death and maintaining its identity by reproducing. Yet by also
being susceptible to mutation, which randomly tinkers with identity, the cell
has the potential to survive change.
Over the past fifty years or so, scientists have
observed that prokaryotes routinely and rapidly transfer different bits of
genetic material to other individuals. Each bacterium at any given time has the
use of accessory genes, visiting from sometimes very different strains, which
perform functions that is own DNA may not cover. Some of the genetic bits are
recombined with cell’s native genes; others are passed on again. Some visiting
genetic bits can rapidly move into the genetic apparatus of eukaryotic cells
(such as our own) as well.
observed that prokaryotes routinely and rapidly transfer different bits of
genetic material to other individuals. Each bacterium at any given time has the
use of accessory genes, visiting from sometimes very different strains, which
perform functions that is own DNA may not cover. Some of the genetic bits are
recombined with cell’s native genes; others are passed on again. Some visiting
genetic bits can rapidly move into the genetic apparatus of eukaryotic cells
(such as our own) as well.
By constantly and rapidly adapting to environmental
conditions, the organisms of the microcosm support the entire biota, their
global exchange network ultimately affecting every living plant and animal. A “superorganism” that communicates,
collaborates and cooperates on a spatial and temporal scale that transcends us.
By creating organisms that are not simply the sum of their symbiotic parts—but
something more like the sum of all the possible combinations of their
parts—such alliances push developing beings into uncharted realms. Symbiosis,
the merging of organisms into new collectives, proves to be a major power of
change on Earth.
conditions, the organisms of the microcosm support the entire biota, their
global exchange network ultimately affecting every living plant and animal. A “superorganism” that communicates,
collaborates and cooperates on a spatial and temporal scale that transcends us.
By creating organisms that are not simply the sum of their symbiotic parts—but
something more like the sum of all the possible combinations of their
parts—such alliances push developing beings into uncharted realms. Symbiosis,
the merging of organisms into new collectives, proves to be a major power of
change on Earth.
Each individual that grows, double its size, and
reproduces is a great success story. Yet just as the individual’s success is
subsumed in the global network of all life—a success of an ever greater order
of gratitude.
reproduces is a great success story. Yet just as the individual’s success is
subsumed in the global network of all life—a success of an ever greater order
of gratitude.
/
Our bodies contain a veritable history of life on
Earth. Our cells maintain an environment that is carbon-and hydrogen-rich, like
that of the Earth when life began. They live in a medium of water and salts
like the composition of the early seas. We become ho we are by the coming
together of bacterial partners in a watery environment. These and other living relics of
once-separate individuals, detected in a variety of species, make it
increasingly certain that all visible organisms evolved through symbiosis, the
coming together that leads to physical interdependence and the permanent
sharing of cells and bodies. We derived in an unbroken sequence from the same
molecules in the earliest cells that formed at the edges of the first warm, shallow
oceans. Our bodies, like those of all life, preserve the vestigials of an
earlier Earth. We coexist with present-day microbes and harbor remnants of
others, symbiotically subsumed within our cells. In this way, the microcosm
lives on in us and we in it. Some people may find this notion disturbing,
unsettling. This perspective clearly brings down all human presumption of
sovereignty over the nature, it challenges our ideas of
individuality, of uniqueness and independence. It even violates our view of
ourselves as discrete physical beings separated from the rest of nature. To
think of ourselves and our environment as an evolutionary mosaic of microscopic
life evokes imagery of being taken over, dissolved, annihilated.
Earth. Our cells maintain an environment that is carbon-and hydrogen-rich, like
that of the Earth when life began. They live in a medium of water and salts
like the composition of the early seas. We become ho we are by the coming
together of bacterial partners in a watery environment. These and other living relics of
once-separate individuals, detected in a variety of species, make it
increasingly certain that all visible organisms evolved through symbiosis, the
coming together that leads to physical interdependence and the permanent
sharing of cells and bodies. We derived in an unbroken sequence from the same
molecules in the earliest cells that formed at the edges of the first warm, shallow
oceans. Our bodies, like those of all life, preserve the vestigials of an
earlier Earth. We coexist with present-day microbes and harbor remnants of
others, symbiotically subsumed within our cells. In this way, the microcosm
lives on in us and we in it. Some people may find this notion disturbing,
unsettling. This perspective clearly brings down all human presumption of
sovereignty over the nature, it challenges our ideas of
individuality, of uniqueness and independence. It even violates our view of
ourselves as discrete physical beings separated from the rest of nature. To
think of ourselves and our environment as an evolutionary mosaic of microscopic
life evokes imagery of being taken over, dissolved, annihilated.
Ex novo:
An “I” exists? An “Us” exists?
We are hybrids reluctant to every classification, knots
of a network that links multiple and distant factors in an unbroken chain, risking
to blow up all the orders, all the programs, all the effects.
of a network that links multiple and distant factors in an unbroken chain, risking
to blow up all the orders, all the programs, all the effects.
We float together with the elements, there is no human
“I” or “Us”. We ourselves are made up of billions and
trillions of small components each with their own intelligence, whether it is a
cell or something even smaller, like a subatomic particle. So actually does not
exist even the “Us”. It exists as a temporary and fragile balance of
coalescence between different elements. And “Us” has a multiplicity
in itself that constantly acts with all the other animated and inanimate creators
in the world.
“I” or “Us”. We ourselves are made up of billions and
trillions of small components each with their own intelligence, whether it is a
cell or something even smaller, like a subatomic particle. So actually does not
exist even the “Us”. It exists as a temporary and fragile balance of
coalescence between different elements. And “Us” has a multiplicity
in itself that constantly acts with all the other animated and inanimate creators
in the world.
Individuals
emerge from bacterial communities. Identity is not an object; it is a process
with addresses for all the different directions and dimensions in which it
moves, and so it cannot so easily be fixed with a single number.
emerge from bacterial communities. Identity is not an object; it is a process
with addresses for all the different directions and dimensions in which it
moves, and so it cannot so easily be fixed with a single number.
Photo by Like A Little Disaster