Τokyo-based artist Runurunu, in collaboration with Hyperlink Athens, presents ‘Null,’ an exhibition challenging conventional notions of form, blurring the boundaries between technology and the human body. As part of the gallery’s ongoing exploration of the Anthropocene theme, “null” contributes to envisioning this post-human world. Through an exploration of symbiosis, deity, adaptability, and gender intersexuality, ‘null’ invites contemplation of the human body as an abstract and synergistic form, probing its potential to establish symbiotic relationships with the environment.

The exhibition integrates soundscapes by Fatalism, serving as the auditory bridge between organic and technological matter. Creators prompt viewers to explore the dynamic interplay between audio and artwork, contemplating how this interaction forms a dialogue within the interstitial space. Crafted from fabric, fasteners, athletic apparatus, and various materials, the artworks conceive ‘supra-natural’ creatures, evoking the aesthetic of ‘post-human hardware’. The three entities form a triangular composition, with ‘III’ shining a red light towards ‘bODY mATRIX(s),’ which, in turn, gazes at the suspended deity, ’93’. This futuristic triptych coexists within one ecosystem, creating an atmosphere that is utopian yet dark, biological and cybernetic. This binary opposition aligns with transhumanist philosophy; envisioning the fusion of technology within the human body and consciousness, surpassing physical and biological limitations.

‘bODY mATRIX(s),’ the earliest within the series, is a hybrid creation merging the head of a hagfish with the body of a seahorse. The hagfish, a genderless and ancestral vertebrate, reproduces through self-fertilisation. The male seahorse demonstrates distinctive parental care, nurturing eggs in a stomach pouch. The artist’s fascination with these creatures profoundly shaped their artistic exploration, leading them to shift from using their own body in performance art to considering sculpture as an extension of this transformative practice.

‘III’ is a design based on the human body, specifically focusing on its legs and devoid of any other organs. Throughout evolution, materials found in nature have been combined without inherent connection and repurposed as tools for specific functions. For instance, fangs served as keys, and skin functioned as rugs (man-made materials are also misused in various ways in this work). Typically, when the body is used as a motif, the artist often crafts suspended works. However, this particular piece holds special significance as it marks the first instance of an artwork landing on the ground. Diverging from the typical role of legs, the three limbs serve the purpose of supporting the illumination rather than the body.

— Sophia Lascaris