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Eli Cortiñas

The Machine Monologs – Part I: The Storm key visual of Eli Cortiñas

Photo: ‘The Machine Monologs - Part I: The Storm’, 2024, multichannel video installation, video stills (Images used under license from Shutterstock.com), Eli Cortiñas. Courtesy the artist.

In a world shaped by war, political unrest, technological revolution and climate change, many experience a deeply unsettling feeling and lack of control. While most might aim to have a positive impact on the world, one question still lingers: what does being “human” mean nowadays? Who are we becoming, and how much agency do we have in the systems that surround and govern us?

The Machine Monologs – Part I: The Storm is the first part of a series of audio-visual installations by video artist Eli Cortiñas, opening 22 August 2024 at Fotografiska Berlin. At the center of this work, humanoid robots, avatars and chatbots engage in monologs about the troubles of our times. We listen to their thoughts and concerns, ranging from anthropocentric thinking and a growing disconnection from nature, to the impact of rampant techno- capitalism, extractivism and autocratic regimes. But where do their words come from? Do they stem from our collective consciousness which inevitably runs through their engines? While scientists debate the presence of consciousness in A.I. and robotics, Cortiñas raises the question: are these beings capable of more humanity than humans?