Ghost in the Machine

The metaphor “ghost in the machine” was originally ascribed to the philosophical discussion of mind-body dualism where emotions and the body function separately. The metaphor of the ghost, alluding to the mind, has also found its way into fiction. The ghost, the artificial intelligence lurking in the computer, is another form of this story.  In the Ghost in the Machine Series figural and technological elements refer to this dualism. In this work I am alluding to the mind/body relationship as holistic- separate but working in unison. Sometimes the mind/body imagery dissolves into a gestalt, other times the body will dominate and vise versa. Given the moral questions of AI today this work seems prescient for the late 80’s.