Text/ Hsu Rae-Ping
Through my work, I attempt to explore the integration and extension of the body and technology. I strive to create a space for discussion between the contrasting discourses of augmentation and subtraction, and propose that the body and otherness are inherently interconnected. My past experience as a therapist working in a hospital has deeply influenced me, and my creative work revolves around the sensations of absence, various intimate human-machine interfaces, wounds and scar tissues, as well as prosthetics and artificial limbs.
The term "prosthesis" (義體) signifies addition, extension, evolution, and transcendence. At the same time, it also points to a void, a need, reduction, and deficiency. In my personal creative endeavors, I often employ the term "prosthesis," but I am keenly aware of its implications, as it presupposes a body that requires supplementation, thereby predetermining a disability for the subject. In turn, I question the definitions of wholeness and soundness, attempting to view "humans" as an assemblage of auxiliary organs. These organs, which can be disassembled and reconfigured, redefine the relationship between humans and their bodies, transforming the body into a potential that can constantly grow and change.
Technology is an extension of the human body, and vice versa. In the course of evolution, our body structures are shaped by the tools we employ. The body itself is an extended technology. The boundaries of the body can be altered. Reflecting on the long history of humans and technology, we know that the body, its potential, and its malleability are not dictated by technology; rather, the body can withstand and incorporate various technologies. I wonder, where does the line between human and machine lie? Where does one end and the other begin? How can we understand our position within the ever-changing boundaries?