Being human is an evolving concept. As we move deeper into the digital age, we find ourselves at an intersection where our human qualities, technology and our social fabric converge and intertwine. This convergence creates a liminal space, a sort of in-betweenness that drives us through the technological medium, reshaping the way we experience and interact with the world. But how exactly does our human experience translate, what does it mean to be a human being in transition or disruption?
This is an autoethnographic research project that disentangles and reveals our intricate relationship with technology by exploring the complex transition of a human connection, the one between a mother and a daughter. It is a personal story that reveals how the body with its new materials language with its new interferences; and the social fabric with its affections, undergo transformations in order to adapt to the screen. In essence, it sheds light on the challenges and changes that a human being faces in order to be a human today.
My iPhone is My Mother: Rare People, Glitching Thoughts and Modern Feelings does not aim to provide definitive answers. Rather, it attempts to expose the politics of our bodies, the loss of certain languages, the role of interference and the complex emotions that arise when our devices become objects of affection. The final project neither marvels at nor condemns the possibilities or implications of a life mediated by screens. It does, however, acknowledge and explore the space for human agency in the realm of these media, which can distort, obscure and fragment our understanding of what it really means to be human.
Valeria Castillo is a multidisciplinary interactive experiences designer. She is a creative and curious person whose approach to design combines critical thinking, research and different visual and interactive media to configure emotional experiences. Her work draws on multiple disciplines Design, Space Design & Art Direction. She is currently finalizing her Bachelor’s Degree in Design and Innovation at ELISAVA University School of Design and Engineering of Barcelona. In 2022 she participated in the Festival University Program of Ars Electronica. In 2022 she was awarded the LAUS Award by ADG-Fad.