“Transhuman-ism” exhibition at OMU examines the future of humanity in a digital age

The 11th solo exhibition titled “Transhuman-ism” by Engin Güney, Associate Professor at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), was opened to visitors at the Exhibition Hall of the Faculty of Fine Arts. The exhibition addresses the transformative effects of technology on human beings from a critical perspective.

The opening was attended by OMU Vice Rector Alper Kesten, OMU Secretary General Erhan Burak Pancar, Chief Physician of the OMU Faculty of Medicine Ünsal Özgen, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Erkan Yalçın, Director of OMU Samsun Vocational School Kaya Tuncer Çağlayan, Director of the OMU Hemp Research Institute Selim Aytaç, as well as many academics, students, and art enthusiasts.

The exhibition, consisting of a total of 29 works and structured in two sections, presents in its first section an interpretation of today’s increasingly digitalized way of life and its effects on human beings through a “digitopic” perspective. In the second section, the artist offers a vision of a more balanced and holistic future through different textures and color harmonies.

Providing an evaluation of the conceptual framework of the exhibition, Associate Professor Engin Güney stated that he addresses contemporary cultural transformation through three main attitudes, saying, “The first is the ideological domination of hegemonic netocrats. The second is the inclination of techno-conformist masses. The third is the vigilance of individuals who are disturbed by these two forms of relations.”

A critical approach with the emphasis on “-ism”

Emphasizing that the “-ism” expression in the exhibition title is a deliberate choice, Güney pointed out that technological transformation is not only a technical but also an ideological process. Referring to the effects of the unconscious use of digital games, social media, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality applications on individuals, Güney noted that moral values may erode in this process.

Stating that transhumanist themes are frequently addressed in cinema and digital content, the artist expressed that humans are entering a process of mechanization by moving away from their biological nature through mechatronic additions. He emphasized that this transformation is not only physical but also involves the weakening of human values such as compassion, conscience, and empathy.

The exhibition also draws attention to environmental issues, presenting massive plastic waste accumulations in oceans as one of the most striking examples of a “chaotic picture.” Güney criticized the neglect of real-world destruction alongside technological developments and stated that a balanced relationship between the digital and real worlds should be established.

Highlighting the importance of digital literacy, the artist stated that the conscious use of technology can enrich human life.

The exhibition, offering an artistic perspective on contemporary issues, will remain open to visitors for 10 days. Additionally, school visits for students from various educational institutions will be organized within the scope of the exhibition.