Awakening the Dead—How to Understand Extinction in the Age of Biotechnology

Abstract This article explores Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg’s art installation series, Resurrecting the Sublime, as a catalyst for reexamining extinction through a posthuman lens. In response to the inadequacies of numerical metrics in comprehending ecological challenges, the study delves into the gap in the literature concerning the multisensorial engagement of art in understanding extinction. The central question revolves around the existence and experience of extinction in the context of technological progress and biotechnological interventions. The article analyzes Ginsberg’s work critically within the frameworks established by transhumanism as well as posthumanism. The research challenges the de-extinction practices that are being developed by transhumanist aspirations in order to highlight the importance of posthuman embeddedness in nature. This relationality that is grounded on the multisensorial qualities of the artwork foster a different understanding of extinction and hence the way humans control other living beings. Methodologically, the study draws on a qualitative analysis of Ginsberg’s artwork, contextualizing it within the broader discourse on extinction aesthetics. By exploring artworks that offer an embodied and embedded experience of extinction, the article aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the ecological challenges we face. In conclusion, it contends that art, specifically Ginsberg’s installation, can serve as a powerful tool in bridging the gap in the literature on extinction. The posthuman perspective encourages a more holistic and multisensorial approach to comprehending the tragedy of extinction, inviting broader implications for environmental discourse and awareness.