TOKYO-2019 Science / Medicine

Wonder Room: Homo Artificialis

  • Prize
    Gold in Science/Medicine, 1st Place winner in Science
  • Photographer
    Cara Louwman
  • Technical Info
    Made In Studio
  • Photo Date
    December 2017 until May 2018

For thousands of years, our technologies have been aimed outward. Now, however, we have started a process of aiming our technologies inward. Technology is nesting itself within us. The way in which the new technologies are shown in this photo series is based on an anatomy cabinet, what I call a wonder room. The anatomical cabinet of Frederik Ruysch (1638-1731) is a great source of inspiration for me. The preparations of Ruysch are located at the interface of art and science. The new technology that becomes part of our bodies have been photographed as contemporary still lifes.

Cara Louwman (The Netherlands, 1967) is a contemporary fine art photographer specialized in creating images that tells a story. She uses photography as a mean to stage an idea and to present new perspectives on contemporary subjects. Her photographs are characterized by the use of multiple layers, sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively. She creates images that are often different from a direct representation of reality. A recurring source of inspiration are cabinets of curiosities.