shashasha

The fourth issue of the Japan-based zine series MEDEIA 2.0 features Japanese photographer Hiroko Komatsu. Combining text and photographic images, Komatsu explores themes of desolation, death, technology, and the mechanical nature of life. To emphasize the material nature of the photographs, the magazine uses a leporello binding, in which the reverse side of Komatsu’s photographic prints actually appears on the back of each image.

“The human brain is divided into left and right and connected by nerve fibres, but since consciousness is maintained not only in one side but in each side, even if the function of one side is destroyed due to cerebral infarction or other reasons, consciousness can still be maintained as long as the other side still functions. If the integration of the brain and machine is complete, even if a human reaches the end of their lifespan and their brain ceases to function, their consciousness can be transferred to the machine without any interruption. The transferred consciousness can control the machine that replaces the body, making eternal life possible.”
― excerpt from Hiroko Komatsu’s text (included in English & Japanese)