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OONA's Provocative Art Piece "Look, Touch, Own" Redefines Boundaries

Written by

Jorge Lucena

Photographed by

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Conceptual artist OONA unveiled her latest provocative performance piece, Look, Touch, Own, during an exclusive NYC preview at LUME Studios on October 17th. In this bold and stirring experience, OONA invited attendees to interact with her art by touching her scarred breasts and former 235CC Silicone Implants, hidden behind a curtain. Each touch triggered the real-time creation of a unique NFT visual artwork generated from analytical and emotional data recorded during the performance. Attendees shared a range of reactions, from deep introspection, fright, speechlessness, and awe-inspiring expressions regarding the unique experience.

For those in the audience, OONA's performance sparked contemplation about their own bodies and identities. A trans woman in attendance found it particularly thought-provoking, reflecting on her experiences and how they compared to other women's bodies. The event challenged preconceived notions, leading attendees to look within and question their own responses. One guest summed it up by declaring OONA to have delivered really strong performance art that spurred them to linger in wonderment of their own actions when engaging with the piece.

OONA's work explores the idea of bodies as interfaces and beauty as programmable. In the modern age of technology and evolving concepts of identity, this performance art pushes boundaries and defies conventional notions of art and the human experience. The use of NFTs in real-time art creation adds a layer of complexity, enabling a deeper understanding of how technology can shape and redefine the very essence of art.

The anonymous conceptual artist, known for her pioneering work at the intersection of gender, identity, and technology, performed the controversial Look, Touch, Own following recent breast surgery to remove her implants. The first 300 touches on her scarred breasts and silicone implants generated unique NFT visual artworks, each a testament to the power of human interaction in the digital age. The art produced from the touches would be revealed for the first time at NADA Miami during Art Basel Miami Beach.

Beyond its interactive and immersive impact, the performance art brings to light the paradoxes of the post-humanist world and challenges the boundaries between the lived experience and data-driven representation. As OONA herself has noted, her practice delves into how technology often surpasses the individuals who use it, transforming personal experiences into quantifiable data. The exploration of tech's relationship with humanity is a particularly relevant and timely subject with the ever-growing popularity of advanced technology like artificial intelligence in mainstream society.

In an era where the most intimate experiences can be captured, reproduced, and programmed, OONA's art serves as a catalyst for redefining the boundaries of identity, touch, and the post-human body. Her work challenges the very nature of our experiences and how they intertwine with the continually adapting landscape of technology.

As we grapple with the junction of our most personal experiences and the external forces of technology, OONA's art invites us to question the barriers between the "inside" and "outside," delving into the depths of duality. Her performance redefines the body as an interface, offering a fresh perspective on identity, touch, and the art of humanism in an increasingly post-human world.

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