Elysium Echoes

The dynamic balance of environment, productivity, and biological evolution in the post-human era.

In the context of the post-human era, the dynamic equilibrium between the environment, productivity, and biological evolution becomes increasingly intricate. In Elysium Echoes, Yiru envisions how varying environmental conditions and levels of productivity profoundly influence the selection and evolution of human genes. Over thousands of years, humanity has achieved significant advancements in productivity, largely due to technological progress, which has enabled humans to adapt to and overcome diverse environmental challenges. However, when extreme environmental conditions suddenly arise, or when ecosystems undergo drastic shifts, the technological edifices upon which humanity relies may swiftly collapse. In such scenarios, productivity could regress dramatically, and environmental pressures would once again dominate the selection of genes. Within this process, genetic adaptation and variation emerge as the most reliable means of survival. Thus, Yiru paints a future where, under extreme conditions, environmental pressures once again take the lead in driving evolution, highlighting the critical importance of genetic adaptation.

Kinetic Devices: Human Responses from a Decentralized Perspective

This project is a dynamic installation centered on the exploration of biological diversity and evolution in the context of the transition from humans to post-humans. The installation is composed of three distinct parts representing human, transitional biological forms, and post-human characteristics. Through continuous rotation, the installation disrupts and recombines these three periods, simulating the interweaving and transformation between different stages of evolution, resulting in the constant formation of new species. The work aims to provoke profound reflections on biological evolution, technological intervention, and the future forms of humanity while challenging traditional biological boundaries.

Project Sustainability: Contemplating an Uncertain Future

Elysium Echoes is a work centered on deconstructing the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world. Through this deconstruction, the piece not only prompts reflection on the rapid advancement of contemporary technology but also guides us to examine whether, in our efforts to reshape nature, we should carefully consider the impact of the environment on living organisms and the profound implications of natural selection in the evolutionary process.

In today’s technology-driven era, humanity’s power and influence seem unprecedented. However, this power brings forth a critical question: do we have the right—or even the necessity—to control and alter nature in the name of modern technology?

While we cannot predict when the so-called "post-human era" will arrive, or what its exact form will be, this future looks like echoes from Elysium, constantly warning us that humanity’s attempt to replace the Creator may not end as we envision.