Two fins were implanted in his skull to try new senses: “I don’t consider myself 100% human”



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The artist who implanted the fins and became a transspecies

According to Manuel del Aguas (24) there is no better way to relate to nature than through technology. They seem two distant, even opposite concepts, but this young Catalan artist has found common ground.

From infobae.com

Manuel is a photographer and music producer. She was born in Barcelona, ​​has two brothers, one is her twin, and has considered herself a Trans-species for three years. What is that? “I don’t consider myself one hundred percent human. My person does not coincide with the biological concept that is known, ”he explains. But far from remaining in theory, he took a risky step in search of his identity and implanted two 500-gram silicone fins – which he designed himself – on each side of his head. This organ, as he calls it, is connected to a microchip that allows it to perceive sound vibrations, humidity, pressure and temperature between the skin and bone.

To perform such a dermal implant, Manuel had to travel to Japan. Of course, you have to bear some consequences. “I have an irritated area of ​​skin. And I take off my fins to sleep and bathe. I’m used to people looking at me on the street, but the truth is, it doesn’t concern me, ”he admits.

In this choice of identity, Manuel also defines himself as a cyborg. According to the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) it is a “being made up of living matter and electronic devices”. In turn, the Cyborg Association makes it clear that they are the union between cybernetics and organisms. Since both are in exponential evolution ”. This definition is very broad and can therefore be interpreted in various ways.

De Aguas, for his passion for the maritime world, founded the Trans Species Society in 2017 together with Neil Harbisson (the first cyborg recognized in the world by a government) and the artist Moon Ribas, choreographer and for a long time equipped with sensors seismic in the feet to be able to perceive “the beats of the earth”.

Some say that the concept of cyborg passes through a perception of oneself and that in reality one is a cyborg simply if one conceives of it as such. And there are also those who say that it necessarily implies conceiving oneself as transhuman (species) because within the concept of transhumanism there is the idea that changes (digital, cellular or of any kind) are made to obtain an improvement of the species. For some, these changes are not necessarily good or bad, they are simply a way of living life.

“Even today, man lives as in an anthropocentric bubble, seeing nature in a vertical hierarchical scale in which the human is above other species, and for me this project also means breaking with that”, underlines Manuel.

The prototype of the organ that was implanted

The rise of transspecies

“The motto of transspecies is to alter human nature, enhance, enhance and extend existence in order to improve the quality of life, human existence and ultimately in order to achieve greater happiness,” he explains. Elena Postigo, graduated in philosophy, specialized in bioethics, in dialogue with Infobae.

To amplify his message and showcase his unique life experience, in 2018 Manuel took the stage at the Globalis Awards to tell about his experience and how he developed and installed a cybernetic sensory organ in his body that allows him to perceive changes in his body. atmosphere pressure and also has wifi.

-What was your first contact with the trans-species world?

-I was studying photography, I wanted to experience a new artistic practice – which is cyborg art – and I met the Cyborg Foundation, where they guided me in the creation of the first prototype of my ‘organ’, a chip behind my neck. I have always had a spiritual connection with nature, ever since we went camping as a family.

-How has your environment experienced the transformation?

-It was a gradual process with many unanswered questions. My family and friends have always supported me, because they have lived closely with every decision. On the street they look at me strangely, even if that doesn’t concern me.

-Why did you implant this organ and not another one?

-I decided to create fins because my inspiration has always been fish, marine biology. As a child, I felt very attached to them.

Before identifying as a transspecies

-Have you suffered any side effects on your health?

-Only at the skin level. The fins are quite heavy. that’s why I take them off to sleep. In the future I want them to be lighter.

-What did you feel physically and emotionally after the implant?

-A vibratory sound that travels through the bone. hard to explain without you you don’t live it. And the satisfaction of having done so. It enriches me as a person, my curiosity enriches me. It’s more like a poetic experience that connects me to nature, more than before. Over time I have understood this organ, how I have adapted it to myself, how I have adapted to the way I understand myself.

Lover of nature, maritime biology and rain

– Does this affect gender identity?

-These are different, however it is clear that modifying the body affects sexuality. At some point, it may have changed the way I feel.



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