'In light of the discussion about AI and the fear that it might assume control over humans, it is worthwhile to consider humans' other cognitive capacities. It is easily overlooked that our brain—with which we compete with AI—is not the only important element of the human body. The hand precedes thinking. Only thanks to the hand is the human being a homo faber—a technical creature.'
—Hans Blumenberg
From the beginning, humans are dependent on their hands. We can only eat on our own if we can grasp, and experience space only by touching. We are dependent on touch, and we want to touch. We need the sensual experiences we have with their help as we need air to breathe. Should AI ever take over thinking, we will still survive with the aid of our hands. The computer may comprehend the function of the brain, but the hand is outside of its scope.
'While the giants of the tech industry dream of conquering the universe, something as elemental as a human hand cannot be represented by this artificial intelligence?'
—Hito Steyerl
AI image generators do indeed have a problem with human hands. Even if one day they will get so far that they can represent it correctly, can they replace the hand? It doesn't seem to be possible. Because unlike the static brain, hands move, and even if their pure functions may be realised technically, the non-functional aspect of hands is reserved to humans: the healing or helping hand, the extended, rescuing hand. The hand can create trust and security—to this day, contracts are sealed with a handshake. But it can also be violent and kill. Over the course of a life, a hand develops and changes and stands for a life lived—the past and the future can be read in it.
Ruth Bernhard, Sim Cha Chi, Rafael Cidoncha, Daniel Gustav Cramer, Alexandra Duprez, Olivier Richon, Antanas Sutkus, Sandy Volz
The exhibition sets a very precise frame for the subject. It contains only works where the hand is the central motif. We chose representations from the fields of photograph, painting, drawing, and sculpture that illuminate different modes of operation and action. The sphere that becomes a work of art through the hand holding it (Daniel Gustav Cramer), the hands demanding attention when conducting (Ruth Bernhard), the intimate connection between the mother's hand and that of her child (Antanas Sutkus), the hand and its proximity to death (Olivier Richon), hands intertwined in struggle (Sandy Volz), the hand as playful decor (Alexandra Duprez), hands in mourning and pain (Sim Cha Chi), or as the carriers of sensuality and mystery (Rafael Cidoncha).
Press release courtesy Galerie Albrecht.
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