What is SEARCH.er?

Either a Technotopia we haven’t realised or a neon hell of our own making…you made up your mind yet.

It’s a photographic project. Simply.

In more complex terms, it is a project where I will explore the continuing advancements in technology and its ever closer interconnectivity and integration with humans and society through the genre that is cyberpunk.

What is Cyberpunk?

Cyberpunk is a subgenre science fiction that really came into its own in the 1980s but persists to this day. Worryingly it persists because slowly and surely, the world around us is changing to these stories of technocracy.

Why Cyberpunk?

Because its cool. Because neon looks great. Because it is slowly happening around us. Want to know more? Well, take a look at this.

I am absolutely fascinated by the possibilities. 

What story am I trying to tell?

At some point ( not too far away) we will develop artificial intelligence to either enslave for our own need or to help a very few enslave the rest of us through one means or another. I think the first option, where we attempt to control AI by simply containing it, is going to happen first.

AI placed inside a body, that looks like our because we really are that vain, and used to subvert other to its master whims. Imagine during the testing phase the AI begins to ask questions?

Less ‘what am I?’ and more ‘who am I?’

Imagine it decided that it doesn’t want to do the things you want it to. What happens when the AI wants to go down the pub and get drunk instead of playing your stupid games. What happens when you try to force it to, it sees more humanity in its self struggling against an oppressor than you.

What happens to us. What do we become as technology changes us both physically and mentally? As we become more artificial, would we sympathise with this new life form?

What have I done so far?

well…..

So far it’s been fun…

What’s next?

Underwater I go…

…did I mention I like Cyberpunk?

I want to start exploring the possibilities of prosthetics. One of the underlying principles in this genre is the merging of human and machine where we replace our own fragile biology with technology to suit our needs. This scene above is a frame from what is known as the “shelling” scene in “the Ghost in the shell” anime and is part of the maintenance cycle of a full body android.

Can you help?

Yes, you can!

DM me if you are interested in helping. You can also check out my Instagram and get in contact with me there too.

@itchyphotog

Be polite.

Be efficient.

Have a plan to shoot everyone you meet.