Milad Forouzandeh
Prologue_version_01 :: (.avi)~(.avi)~(.avi)
About the work
Prologue_Version_01 is a foresight and collective review that intends to attend to gene promotion in various biological species. Having been investigating the Axolotl genome – which has the capability of restoring the damaged parts of body – scientists have carried out successful experiments to regenerate organ tissues of human, animal and plant species making use of Cell engineering.
Looking backward, classical artists used to register a kind of perspective filled with plants, human and animal species. Examining the plants in their works and relying on our familiarity with the surrounding world, we could immediately accept these species as quite tangible objects. Yet, there has been a contentious issue as to how we could demonstrate and record the distinction between the performance of such species with distinguished new traits in contrast with those of past.
In a different era of Persian literature, we have witnessed the vast use of cedar trees, directly or indirectly. The image of the tree has also been used in miniature and the stories of a different era in Iran. We could imagine having another version of this tree with the same appearance but with an upgraded gene and new capabilities. How would it be possible to investigate and record its image?
This is an example of the visual evidence of ancient Iranian culture: by discussing and investigating such topics in other cultures and by posing the question as to whether in a future filled with the creation of the new mutated phenomenon, we will encounter a huge alteration of definitions in areas such as literature and visual culture.
In this work Milad investigates and predicts different subjects which are key elements in both literary and visual cultures of the other countries. This is be a kind of preparation and endeavor to create a platform for describing and portraying new species with mutated genes. Milad creates an ecosystem in a virtual world as well as the real-world, including trans-Humans, plants, and animals with upgraded genomes and new abilities. The ecosystem acts a platform to review and research on these imaginary creatures with the genetic mutation.
Prologue_Version_01 intends to answer whether they could affect the meaning of our literature, Poetry, and Stories in the future.
Audio Description
addition
by Milad Forouzandeh
Through the advancement of science, humankind has been witnessing and needing the growth of different well-equipped labs around the world asserting the ability to recreate plants, animal species, and even part of the human body. We make plants in the laboratory, flourish them, and even improve them and making them more resistant through manipulating their genetic codes. However, still, we ignore natural species with very long histories, the ones that have been part of the process of treatment and remedying different diseases.
Given these advancements and the possibility of cell culture, is humankind leaning towards some sort of moral ignorance about natural plant and animal species?
Will humankind’s morality and responsibility towards the natural change with the day-to-day advancement of science?
Milad Forouzandeh was born and raised in Shiraz, Iran. He graduated in 2012 with a BA in Graphic Design from Shiraz Art Institute of Higher Education, with an approach in digital and new media art, where he was also acted as a teachers’ assistant. In 2010, he won the title of top young Iranian visual artist. His works have been nominated and selected in biennales and events in Shangyuan Art Museum, Tate Britain, MUNCH Museum, Hard Disk Museum, 30 Seconds Museum Tokyo, The Wrong New Digital Art Biennale, NODE Forum for Digital Arts, CADAF contemporary and digital art fair, Art Dubai 2021 and etc. In 2014, Miald founded the “Dar-Al-Hokoomeh Project” with Mohsen Hazrati, an independent new media art project based in Shiraz with a vision to create a community dedicated to emerging artistic practices, workshops, talks, presentations, and exhibitions. In 2016, Milad began lecturing as an assistant professor in his alma mater, teaching Digital Arts courses. In 2017, Milad was invited as one of the guest speakers on the “Mollasadra St” episode of TEDx video series.
Based on his experience as an artist and curator in DAHproject, Milad developed his practice aiming at the investigation of human behavior and emotions, and the effects of culture in the past and present. Following this path, his work anticipates future cultural changes and how they assign meaning to our living experiences. Focusing on the use of contemporary and emerging technologies, his work tends to bridge the cultural timeline between past and future.
Above: Audio narrative of Prologue_Version_01 by the artist on a sound player.
To pause the autoplay sound, please use the player.
