Supra-memento

Supra Memento speculates on the preservation of human life within digital spaces and how our physical bodies today co-exist with their dematerialized reflections, and thereby resist the inevitable decay that is imposed in our tangible realities.

Growing up in a catholic family, I was taught to think of death as a rite of passage, even if the physical body ceases to exist, the soul remains in a dematerialized spiritual form. Nowadays I can find this immortality of the soul through digital devices that allow for a more tangible way of experiencing those who are not with me physically. The digital archive that we keep of our lives is diverse and extended, and it is where we all somehow remain crystallised in this non-temporal and non geographical, yet very real, space.

Through multiple photogrammetry scans, I preserved my body and the bodies of my loved ones, attempting to immortalise the ephemerality of human memories and relationships into a single liminal space. These bodies are intertwined with the decaying of multiple organic matters, recalling the Vanitas symbolism.

Photogrammetry is a technique most commonly used in the fields of archeology to preserve in time scenarios that are in constant change. Even if the output conveys an illusion of volume and physicality, it is no more than an empty shell composed of light points. The movement through the images reveals and exposes the fragility of this digital artifacts, while at the same time allowing space for the abstraction and ambiguity that metaphysical themes calls for.

Presented as a 4-channel installation, the work engages the visitor in a physical experience playing with the illusion between the tangible and the non tangible. Inspired by the grandiosity of windows found in churches and spiritual places, which act as light shapers and a vehicle for introspection, the image here also takes the form of light that is shaped through self-standing screens. The architectural component of the installation is an invitation to experience the work from multiple perspectives, in the same way the photographer had to capture each of the subjects from all perspectives. The output reflects the process and grants to the viewer the freedom of choosing where, how and for how long they interact with the work. The space is also filled with a soundscape that combines multiple family recordings from digital calls, with sounds of flesh and nature, intertwined with digital glitch sounds, evoking a sense of cold familiarity and allowing each person to connect it to their personal memories. 

Luísa Tormenta (Porto, 1996) is a multidisciplinary image maker working within the fields of photography, art direction and graphic design. She holds a BA in Visual Communication by ESAD and in 2023 graduated with honors from the MA in Photography at ECAL. Her work investigates experiences of intimacy and human connection within digital environments. She uses a combination of photography, computer generated imagery and digital manipulation to create narratives in the form of video-installations or still images.