Cyborg needs no redemption
2024
![]()
![]()
Ph. Linaá Pulido Barragán
3D animation explores the intersection of biotechnology and spiritual transcendence, inspired by the classical themes of Dante Alighieri’s _Divine Comedy_ and the visual power of Gustave Doré's engravings. The work reimagines these ancient narratives through a contemporary lens, where a cyborg, representing a biblically accurate angel, embarks on a profound journey of self-discovery and redemption.
Constructed from hyper-detailed 3D models derived from medical scans of cancerous tissues and neural structures, the cyborg angel embodies the fusion of organic life and artificial technology. This hybrid being navigates a hellish landscape that reflects the chaotic interplay between disease, decay, and the struggle for survival. The environment is a blend of the organic and the mechanical, representing the torment and complexity of the modern existential condition.
Ph. Angélica Sabina
As the animation progresses, the cyborg angel confronts various manifestations of suffering and transformation, ultimately striving toward a state of purity and transcendence. The journey culminates in an ascent toward a paradisiacal realm, where the cyborg sheds its corrupted layers, emerging as a being of light and harmony—free from the constraints of both flesh and machine.
The artwork invites viewers to reflect on the convergence of technology, spirituality, and the human condition. It challenges us to consider the nature of identity and redemption in an age where the boundaries between the natural and the artificial are increasingly blurred.
Exhibition view at Ars Electronica Festival, Touching Thoughts, Servus & JKU Med, Linz, Austria
This project was realized within the context of the JKU LIT project Touching Thoughts 2024
Produced in collaboration with Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology Johannes Kepler University Linz and servus.at - Kunst & Kultur im Netz
Sound design Luka Prinčič