<!--AI_Augmented_Iconography--> Statement
The concept of <!--Augmented_Iconography--> is about the process of alteratioin of human body and humanity. What defines us as human in the age of modern technologies? How far will we go? When ALL can be edited, augmented and altered - what is REALITY? Innovations such as code, algorithms, artificial intelligence, and DNA editing are reshaping not only our daily lives but also our spiritual well-being, physical bodies, self-perception, and sense of value. This question transcends identities and origins, addressing universal aspects of the human experience.
In my practice, I observe, critique, and visualize the present and future of humanity as it is altered, adjusted, and commodified into data. I am particularly fascinated by the process of us, humans, become dependent “followers” and “customers” of technology, surrendering our privacy, emotional well-being, and intimate relationships to corporations.
My process is labor-intensive and meticulous, transforming technology-based elements into tangible, physical objects to emphasize their human, handmade origins. By taking these objects “off-screen” into the physical world, I underscore the value of traditional, tactile interaction. Through techniques such as hand-stitching and needlework, I physically alter digital objects, highlighting the imperfect, irreplaceable essence of human physicality. These acts of alteration also serve as a reminder that humans, as creators, drive the cycle of technological innovation—reshaping tools that, in turn, reshape us.
I approach the relationship between humans and modermtechnology as deeply religious and ideological, rather than purely practical or utilitarian. Drawing inspiration from Orthodox iconography, I incorporate religious and ideological references to depict this dynamic. Through fictionalization and archaism, I examine the process of “human alteration,” blending reality and myth to create a new, augmented reality that reflects our evolving identity.
My mission is to challenge the forces that shape human identity and perception in the digital age by creating work that provokes critical reflection on technology, power, and ideology.
For the broader community and society, my motivation is to preserve and amplify the human experience in an increasingly automated world. I seek to create spaces—both physical and conceptual—where people can pause, question, and resist passive participation in systems that reduce them to data. My work serves as a call to guard what makes us human, urging viewers to critically engage with the realities of surveillance, misinformation, and digital control before they become irreversible.