In Praise of Useless Robots
10 days ago
- #Robotics
- #Futurism
- #Art
- The Futurism retrospective in Rome showcased the Futurists' vision of machines as time-machines embodying progress, influencing arts and culture.
- Anicka Yi's 'aerobes' at Tate Modern represent a new kind of companion species, evoking sublime otherness rather than uncanniness, challenging traditional robot imagery.
- Robotics has transitioned from rigid, anthropomorphic designs to soft, flexible materials, exemplified by Cecilia Laschi's octopus-inspired robotic arm, embodying intelligence through physical interaction.
- Hajime Sorayama's 'Sexy Robot' sculptures critique and celebrate the modernist stereotype of robots, contrasting with Yi's non-human, sensitive automata.
- Historically, automata served as epistemic devices before functional tools, reflecting a non-utilitarian interest in robots that continues in contemporary art installations like 'After Care'.
- 21st-century soft machines signal a cultural and epistemic shift, emphasizing ecological continuity and coexistence with otherness, beyond mere functionality.