Portraits. Transhuman. Transitional human. According to followers of transhumanism, it will produce a supreme and perfect human being. Improved by biotechnology, gene manipulation, brain transplantation … But isn’t it at the same time a huge threat? Are we sure to be in control of what “progress” speeding in a pure madness, maybe to our own destruction? Our prompt annihilation? We are not just threatened by the “transitional human being”. We are at the same time going away from humanity the way we know it.
The problem is real, tangible. We are standing on the threshold of another, but not necessarily friendly to us world.
And this is why it is so important to show the danger in a plastic form. Transhuman visions of Jan Astner are a warning, they activate our non-verbal imagination. They stimulate our way of thinking; they are a cry of despair of a human being trapped in the snares of his own inventions.
The name of TRANSHUMAN PORTRAITS, however, suggests that they are portraits. The symbolism of the applied artistic forms also refers to them. A few curls, the shadow of lips, the outline of eyes. But we see completely melted shapes in an almost abstract drawing. The use of colors, metallic, shimmering, changeable, almost always contrasts with the background.
Sometimes the background texture literally refers to the human body, human skin, human fingerprints. TRANSHUMAN PORTRAITS are abstract visions of something unknown. It is a vision of a transhuman human being, a transitional man.
According to the supporters of transhumanism, it will be an ideal, perfect being. Improved with biotechnology, gene manipulation, brain transplantation. It is just an abstract vision for now. But doesn’t it pose a huge threat? Are we sure we have control over everything that brings progress, rushing at a crazy pace? Are we not threatened only by a “transitional man”, but also a departure from humanity? Our annihilation?
The problem is real, tangible. We stand on the threshold of a different, but not necessarily kind, world. And maybe that is why it is so important to show the threat facing humanity in a visual form. Jan Astner’s abstract visions are a warning, they activate non-verbal imagination. They make you think, they are the scream of a human being who is trapped in inventions.
The deliberate limitation of the color palette to black and white focuses the viewer’s attention on the form. Black and white are not a limitation, but a creative tool for conveying ambiguous meanings. Spiritual minimalism dominates in monochromatic paintings. Simplicity further emphasizes the unique character of the imaginary mask.
Each plastic sign is a symbol and has its own meaning. Simple drawing forms allow you to focus on the unreal features of subtle portraits. The works reveal emotions and intimate hidden secrets. The simplicity of graphic portraits conceals a wealth of meanings, and the limitation of form enhances the power of the message. Looking at Subtle Portraits, we experience a wealth of forms and symbols that lead us to reflect on beautifying ourselves and our surroundings. After all, we subtly repaint ourselves every day, thus participating in a masquerade because we want to show ourselves as someone other than who we are.
