PPL
By, J. Scuderi
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. — Oh, The Places You Will Go!
— Dr. Seuss
Exploration, Technology, and the Expansion of Human Consciousness
Humans have always been explorers. From the first journeys across uncharted lands to the great voyages into space, exploration has been a defining trait of our species. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, marking the beginning of our exploration beyond Earth. Now, as we set our sights on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the drive to discover new frontiers is more alive than ever.
But exploration today isn’t just about new places — it’s about new ways of existing. We’ve always adapted to our changing world, using technology to improve how we live, work, and understand ourselves. Now, we find ourselves at the crossroads of a new form of exploration: the digital realm.
This new era isn’t simply about discovering new digital spaces — it’s about how we, as humans, have entered a time of digital duality. We no longer exist solely in the physical world. Alongside our physical selves, we now live in an electric, digital space. Our consciousness has expanded beyond its traditional boundaries, and we are now constantly connected to a digital existence that operates alongside our physical lives.
In this time of digital duality, technology plays a central role in shaping how we understand the world and our place in it. Artificial intelligence (AI), immersive experiences like Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), and other digital tools are no longer just tools — they are extensions of ourselves. These technologies aren’t just for communicating or creating; they’re ways of enhancing our consciousness, allowing us to experience, understand, and engage with the world in ways that were once unimaginable.
AI, in particular, has become a key player in this transformation. Technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and image generators like Midjourney have shifted how we think, communicate, and create, reinterpreting our our workflow as it automates menial tasks allowing us to create faster and produce more. We now have the ability to have conversations with a technological interface rather than a blind search. The search function has in a sense, become more human.
This tangential shift in our connection and use of technology is physically changing the way we think and act. This major disruption in human engagement is causing a kind of evolutionary tipping point. These tools help us navigate the digital space with more human-like interactions, making it feel as if our digital selves are just as real, just as present, as our physical ones.
This shift is not just a technological change; it’s a psychological and philosophical one. As we interact with these digital tools, we are exploring a new aspect of our consciousness. Our identities are no longer defined by our physical selves alone; we now exist as both physical beings and digital presences, each influencing the other. We are, in a sense, living in two worlds at once — one tangible and one virtual. This digital duality isn’t a separation but an expansion of who we are.
Through this evolutional ‘rewiring,’ PEOPLE will become PPL.
The “PPL” Project: A Symbol of Our Digital and Physical Existence
The “PPL” project was created to reflect this digital duality. The project uses simple, abstract figures — called “PPL” (pronounced “people”) — to represent the complex relationship between our physical bodies and our digital selves. These figures are inspired by artists like Keith Haring and KAWS and symbolize the way we now experience the world in two realms simultaneously.
The figures in the PPL project embody the idea that our identities are evolving. As we move between physical and digital spaces, we are no longer confined to traditional ideas of identity — age, gender, race, and even physical form. The PPL figures represent a world where these boundaries are becoming less important, and where the line between who we are in the physical world and who we are in the digital world is increasingly blurred.
The project explores how technology, especially AI, is allowing us to transcend our physical limitations. By living in both spaces, we are not losing touch with our humanity — we are expanding it. These figures express emotions through simple gestures like waves, embraces, and kisses, reminding us that, even in a digital world, we still seek connection, love, and meaning.
Conclusion: Embracing Our Digital Duality
The idea of digital duality forces us to rethink what it means to be human in the digital age. As we navigate the spaces between our physical bodies and digital selves, we are expanding our consciousness in profound ways. Technology is not simply a tool; it’s a mirror reflecting our evolving understanding of identity, connection, and existence.
The PPL project captures this transformation. It invites us to consider how living in two worlds — physical and digital — changes how we experience life, relate to others, and understand ourselves. As we continue to evolve and integrate technology into our lives, we enter a new phase of human existence, one where our consciousness is no longer limited to the physical world but exists and grows in both the physical and electric spaces we now inhabit.
View the project here:
https://www.lasergunfactory.com/ppl
Text and Animations by, J. Scuderi (Lasergun Factory)
Reference links:
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
https://openai.com/
https://www.midjourney.com/
https://stablediffusionweb.com/
METAVERSE
https://www.matthewball.vc/