Imagine the Olympians, the great athletes of Ancient Greece who trained in elite gymnasiums through limitless competition. Perfect and strong, they were committed to an eternal quest to become superhuman. Cast in marble and stone, this ancient fantasy comes full circle when the relentless demands of today’s “attention economy” meet with our human desires for full optimisation. This is where the ultra-fit, technologically-enhanced body thrives, accelerated by platform logics towards a post-human state - anonymous, inhuman, machine-like, infinitely reproducible.

In FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER, humans and non-humans train together in the impossible attempt to achieve post-natural optimisation. Three performers riding on stationary exercise bikes supply energy to a series of rotating bioreactors, producing microbial cellulose from the SCOBY (symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast) found in kombucha, the fermented liquid known as the wellness drink of the 21st century. The three riders are today’s Olympians, today’s statues, the pinnacles of human physical fitness. They are living out the ancient fantasy, rewriting history while scrolling through its digital representations. This dynamic relationship between bodies and technology reflects our digital landscapes, where curated social media feeds often shape our perception of what bodies are and what bodies can be.

The installation is on view at the foyer of Haus der Kulturen der Welt and will be activated by the performers several times during the day (Reunion, 3 February).

The opening performance of FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER was commissioned by Intermediae Matadero for the exhibition Clima Fitness curated by Maite Borjabad with spatial design by Common Accounts.

With support by Österreichisches Kulturforum.