Becoming Human Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art Reader 1

Founded in 2016, the Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art has a European focus and a strong regional profile. Taking the rich history of Riga and the Baltic states as its underlying framework, this Biennial highlights the artistic landscape of the region and creates opportunities for artists to enter into dialogue with the cultural, historical and socio-political context of the city and the rest of the world. This first RIBOCA Reader I is a discursive literary companion that reaches far beyond the ephemeral nature of temporary exhibitions. It aims to provide in-depth analysis and cultural debate at a time of rapid scientific advancements, artificial intelligence, increased automation, biotechnological partnerships and the new field of "transhumanism''. A timely assessment and vital exploration of what it actually means to be "human" today is discussed from many angles. Selected artists, writers, social scientists, technology specialists and a variety of cultural researchers address fundamental questions such as: what kind of communities are evolving in this era of rampant capitalism? Are we blindly marginalizing basic traits like empathy, imagination, and the capacity to care for others? And what are the special traits that make us uniquely human - from language, reason and knowledge to our interrelational skills. This project examines new, sustainable ways of being and becoming human in the Anthropocene.