Description

Metro Bowie by Lex Mayhew

About this piece: Meet Metro, the Bowie Bot brought to life by the enduring influence of Fritz Lang’s cinematic masterpiece, Metropolis. David Bowie’s profound connection to the film is evident in the naming of his third album, originally titled Metrobolist, later rebranded as The Man Who Sold the World due to label pressures.

The Diamond Dogs tour saw Bowie creatively draw from Metropolis’ iconic visuals, a testament to the film’s lasting impact on his artistic expression. Bowie’s artistic pilgrimage extended to Berlin, a city chosen for its ties to German expressionism and influential filmmakers like Lang. Reflecting on this period in 2001, Bowie noted, “It was an art form that mirrored life not by event but by mood. This was where I felt my work was going.” Even in his later years,

Bowie’s commitment to Metropolis endured. His attempt to purchase the film’s rights, driven by a desire to restore and reintroduce it to new audiences, underscores his deep and abiding connection to the cinematic classic. In homage to this rich cinematic legacy, Metro, the robot bot, stands as a testament to Bowie’s enduring love for Metropolis and the profound impact it had on his artistic journey — a visual and conceptual marvel echoing the spirit of Bowie’s artistic metamorphosis.

The “Bowie Bots” series of original artworks invites us to imagine the new personas David Bowie would have embraced in his immortal existence through a series of cybernetic resurrections. Renowned for transcending conventional identities through his innate ability for fluid change, David Bowie defied the confines of the mortal realm, transcending time and space. Infused with Bowie’s diverse interests, passions, and experiences, his spirit serves as the guarding force in the exploration of the ever-evolving nature of self.

Simultaneously, the project contemplates the enigmatic nature of our existence and consciousness, exploring the potential implications of emergent technologies on human identity. It confronts the timeless question: are we merely intricate biological machines shaped by genetic programming and life experiences? As advanced technological systems continue to evolve, could it be possible to download our memories and consciousness into them as everlasting vessels for our identity and soul? Is it even morally right to even contemplate this or is advanced technology finally poised to deliver the ‘immortality’ that many religions have elusively promised us? Will we be delivered into the afterlife as cybernetic angels?

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