Catalog for the Post-Human Vending Machine was featured at the “MetaWhat?” exhibition, held at The Media Majlis gallery on Northwestern University’s Doha campus from August 2023 to May 2024.
Originally commissioned for the “Designs for Different Futures” exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this project presents a collection of speculative objects designed for gig- workers compelled to enhance their abilities in response to increasing automation. The vending machine, with its built-in touchpad, acts as both an interactive exhibit and a portal to the “CFTPH” website, offering a glimpse into a world where labor and human enhancement intersect in unexpected ways.
Catalog for the Post-Human uses satire to reflect on the future of work, highlighting the pressures placed on contingent workers in a tech-driven society. Drawing on research into AI bias, surveillance capitalism, and cognitive enhancement, the project imagines a range of objects designed to help workers stay competitive. From CLICKBAITWEAR™️ to FLUXAI™️, each item invites visitors to consider the impact of emerging technologies on the labor force.
Curated by Jack Thomas Taylor, “MetaWhat?” examined how the metaverse is transforming communication, exploring topics like avatars, virtual land ownership, and digital value systems. The exhibition offered a closer look at the next generation of media and entertainment, with a focus on perspectives from the Global South and how users might reimagine virtual spaces free from Western-centric ideals.
Visitors to www.cftph.work can explore the catalog of speculative objects such as MYCOPOPS™️, MORNINGRITUAL™️ and BESTSELFER™️ and imagine a future where workers must constantly evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Supported by a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts and accompanied by a microsite designed by HOUR Studio and logo design by Michael Savona,
