Zeina Barakeh - South Gallery: CYBOTAGE

Artist statement:

CYBOTAGE is a solo exhibition where art, biology, global security, and social science converge. Named after its central body of work, this series of animated digital colossi probes the ethical dilemmas of human enhancement technologies—sparking dialogue on their impact on society and the environment. Inspired by the colossal guardian statues of Ancient Egypt’s Abu Simbel, these figures, constructed from MRI-like scans overlaid with mapping systems, stand as “guardians” of cyberspace, projected onto landmark facades, skyscrapers, or displayed indoors.

Drawing from the legacy of Ancient Egyptian colossi, CYBOTAGE reflects on humanity’s shifting relationship with technology—from the permanence of carved stone to the ephemeral nature of digital pixels. Reimagining the colossus as a “deity” of the Internet age, it questions our dependence on cyberspace as a modern temple and the unseen forces that govern and protect our digital existence. CYBOTAGE invites viewers to examine the intersections of human enhancement, cybernetics, and data surveillance with body autonomy, longevity, and environmental sustainability. It raises urgent questions about who will have access to technological upgrades, how these advancements could reshape societal hierarchies, and what “equality” might mean in a future where the boundaries between human and machine continue to dissolve—particularly as the gap between enhanced and non-enhanced individuals emerges in both civilian and military spheres.

CYBOTAGE is the recipient of the 2025 Leonardo-ASU Seed Grant, and supported by the 2024 SF Bay Area Artadia Award.