Cybroc

Overview

Longevity activism is a proliferating movement led by Silicon Valley's ultra-wealthy, focusing on promoting research, policies, and practices aimed at extending human lifespan and healthspan. For example, billionaire Bryan Johnson is dedicating significant efforts to this cause, promoting his "Blueprint" protocol to reverse aging.

While we no longer live in survival mode, our bodies remain largely unchanged from thousands of years ago, predating agriculture and industrialization. Our physiology is still built for survival. Longevity activists propose exercises that mimic ancient survival tasks, such as cold plunges, treadmill running, brachiation, and sled pushing. These activities mimic early human survival tasks, echoing the hunting and running our early ancestors performed.

In an era where billionaires and tech moguls invest heavily in life extension through cutting-edge protocols and biotechnologies, we face a crucial question: Can we truly enhance our ancient biology, or are we simply creating mechanical imitations of our primal past?

"Cybroc" is a series of kinetic art installations featuring multiple broccoli "cyborgs." Each is augmented with prosthetic limbs and mechanical attachments, enabling them to perform various exercises associated with longevity-enhancing activities promoted by longevity activists. These include cold plunges, treadmill running, brachiation (arm-swinging), sled pushing, and more—all simulations of primal human survival tasks reframed as modern fitness routines.

The artwork's impact is heightened by its temporal nature. Over the course of the installation, the broccoli inevitably decays, despite (or perhaps because of) its intense "exercise" regimen. This deterioration serves as a metaphor for the limitations of biological systems and raises questions about the efficacy of extreme life extension efforts, the ethics of human enhancement beyond natural capabilities, and particularly transhumanist ideals.

Through its unique blend of humor, critique, and philosophical inquiry, "Cybroc" challenges viewers to consider the boundaries between human and machine, the pursuit of immortality, and the potential consequences of pushing biological systems beyond their natural limits. It serves as a witty yet profound commentary on society's quest for eternal youth and the complex intersection of nature, technology, and human ambition.

"Cybroc" serves as a humorous yet profound exploration of the complex relationship between nature, technology, and the human desire for immortality. The work compels audiences to contemplate the physical and ethical boundaries of life extension and the ways in which modern society seeks to transcend its biological origins. By juxtaposing the simple, organic form of broccoli with the advanced concepts of transhumanism, the installation asks whether the future of human enhancement lies in meaningful evolution.