Acrylic on canvas - 10" x 10" - completed 11/2008

Full Title: "Alternative Fuel Source #01"
(a painting in of my 'TRANSHUMANISUM' series)

11/20/2008: Though you all see things somewhat differently, as I knew you would, you DO get the 'message' or I should say, the feeling, that I had while creating the piece. That proves to me that I am communicating my ideas well. Here's what I wrote about the painting before anyone responded;

What I was thinking about here is a visual analogy of the effects of technology, both known and yet to be invented, upon life forms.

These impictured ideas are part of an ongoing thread of thoughts I have concerning the inevitable "technological singularity". The technological singularity is a theoretical future point of unprecedented technological progress, caused in part by the ability of machines to improve themselves using artificial intelligence. (SEE: [link])

To my mind, there are several ways life on Earth could change after this event. My thoughts gravitate to these ideas, and I like to paint them. The only thing certain is that life will change radically and quickly. Much more evolution will take place in a very shot period of time than ever before in our knowledge. This will be technological rather than biological. However, impact on the biologicals will be almost as though it was the same.

It is predicted in Ray Kurzweil's book; "the age of spiritual machines" that this singularity event will occur sometime near the year 2045.

At this time computers will be operating at several hundred times the power of a human brain. This time is an estimate of course, and I tell it here simply to illustrate that whenever this time will come … it will indeed come.

When it comes. When machines begin to perfect themselves in their own image and far better than any human can, it can only be assumed that they will predicate their evolution on the betterment of mankind. Further to that, a question arises, what will a machine's conception of what is the "betterment of mankind" be?

This small painting is simply my minds representation of what might come of a machines idea of how a life form might be bettered. I realize this does not really 'explain' the image. There is no explanation. It is art … and thus the explanation, if any, is in the mind of the viewer. I can only hope that I have struck common cords in the psyche of my fellow humans to pass on some idea similar to my own … which obviously, I can not adequately explain using the language of words.


ORIGINAL STATEMENT POSTED 11/06/2008:

I have a little disagreement with an important colleague of mine. Her contention is that most, if not all people who gaze upon this image will have a very solid and immutable idea of what it is, and what is happening.

My argument is that many people will see many things, especially without any explanation from me.

So, if I could impose upon you to say a few words describing what YOU think this "is", or what it is "about", I would be very grateful.

In 2 weeks I will write about this thing, and what I intended this to be, and what it 'is' to me.

I think my point will be proved here if you will help with a few words. Your first impression without being influenced in any way is greatly appreciated. Thank you!