Inspired by the ideas of cyborgism and hybridism, Cyborg-Indígena is born, a fusion of mythological references and technology that creates a representation of Indigenous peoples full of empowerment, valuing their ancestral identities and traditions while being connected to future technology. 

In this futuristic scenario, tradition and technology intertwine harmoniously. The Indigenous Peoples of the future, by incorporating technology into their bodies, strengthen their cultures and resistance, constantly fighting against stereotypes and prejudices, promoting valorization and equality.

The futuristic Indigenous approach is a visionary and pioneering act that establishes a new paradigm of cultural representation, a source of inspiration for creativity and innovation, offering a unique and provocative vision of the future. In addition, sustainability is a hallmark of this project, which prioritizes the use of recycled electronic materials, promoting environmental awareness and the preservation of natural resources.

The whole proposal and the photos were selected and written by Paulo Desana, an Indigenous artist of the Desana People in Brazil

TL;DR

• Indigenous Artistic project to break stereotypes about Indigenous Peoples and technologies by creating hybrids where tradition and technology intertwine harmoniously with a context of decolonisation. The raw materials used are discarded electronic materials to raise awareness of environmental issues and their impacts within Indigenous Communities;

• This project is working with 12 different ethnic groups of Brazil, where each one will have its unique set of artistic representation in relation with technologies; 

• This artistic project will implement NFTs to register and share its message to the Web3 community as already done with Herdeiro dos Pajés. 

• This project is sponsored by Mycelia, and so it will help to fund the Web3 Education program for Indigenous Peoples and allies who want to learn more about Web3.

Project Summary 

Our project goes beyond, incorporating twelve ethnic groups in a plural and diverse way. The Indigenous Future is a true cauldron of creations, which in addition to traditional ornaments, join Indigenous bodies with computer boards, solar panels, LEDs, circuits, wires and other discarded electronic materials in a process of artistic recycling and environmental preservation.

Each Indigenous person will conduct exhaustive research on their own ethnicity, mythologies, clothing, ornaments, graphics and other relevant knowledge.

 At the same time, each participant will also contribute to the search for discarded electronic materials, which will be carefully selected and used in the creative process. The first sketches will be created using art programs, and will go through experimentation and refinement until each Indigenous cyborg reaches his final result. Our passion for art, nature and environmental preservation motivates us in every step of this project. We are ready to show the world that the future is Indigenous and cyborgian!

 At the same time, each participant will also contribute to the search for discarded electronic materials, which will be carefully selected and used in the creative process. The first sketches will be created using art programs, and will go through experimentation and refinement until each Indigenous cyborg reaches his final result. Our passion for art, nature and environmental preservation motivates us in every step of this project. We are ready to show the world that the future is Indigenous and cyborgian!

Project Presentation

The project Ciborguindígena - The Indigenous is the Future! emerges as an innovative proposal that seeks to enhance the representativeness of the Indigenous body in the context of contemporary art. In it, we explore the fascinating possibility of union between Indigenous hybrid mythologies and the concept of cyborgism, which merges Indigenous cultural abundance with modern technologies. In partnership with the Articulation of Indigenous Organizations and Peoples of Amazonas (APIAM), we will make a selection of twelve Indigenous individuals from different ethnicities, including two Indigenous representatives of the LGBTQIAPN+ movement. 

With this group, we intend not only to use the usual traditional ornaments, but also to create Indigenous costumes from discarded electronic materials, such as computer boards, solar panels, wires, LEDs, among others. These revived materials will become feathers, headdresses, maracas, earrings, leaves, bows, arrows, blowpipes and other items that represent the rich Indigenous culture. 

In addition, we will recreate Indigenous graphics in the form of circuits, which will adorn the bodies of those selected. To ensure authenticity and respect for the customs of their respective peoples, each Indigenous person will conduct extensive research on their ethnicity, mythologies, clothing, ornaments, graphics and other relevant knowledge. In parallel, each participant will also collaborate in the search for discarded electronic materials, which will be carefully selected and used in the creation process. The initial sketch will be made in art programs, being later experimented and refined until each Indigenous Cyborg reaches its final result. In order to perpetuate this magnificent artistic manifestation, each Indigenous Cyborg will be carefully photographed and filmed at different angles, in an environment specially prepared to enhance its unique presence and the visual impact that its creation provides. We firmly believe that this initiative, carried out in a professional and respectful manner, will open doors for the valorization and dissemination of the rich Indigenous culture, offering a renewed and inspiring look at the past, present and future of our ancestral peoples.

Justification

Renowned Indigenous activist and writer Ailton Krenak makes us reflect on the ancestral heritage of the future, challenging us to abandon the limited vision imposed by Eurocentric and imperialist supremacy.

He invites us to embrace diversity and expand our horizons. Inspired by Ailton Krenak's powerful phrase "The future is ancestral" and the Indigenous movement "The future is Indigenous", the concept of "CyborgIndigenous - Indigenous is the Future" is born, a creative fusion between the traditional and the technological! Our project seeks to expand the representation of the Indigenous body through contemporary art. 

We want Indigenous Peoples to become hybrid beings and cyborgs, connected to technology, but always honoring their art, culture, mythology and their deep connection with nature. Our proposal celebrates the ability of Indigenous people to adapt to the current sociocultural context, modernizing traditional elements and absorbing influences from contemporary culture. In contemporary art, the Indigenous body goes beyond being a simple subject represented in different artistic forms.

Our Indigenous artists use their own bodies as part of their artistic expressions, either through performances or body art. In our project, the Indigenous cyborgs are created from 60% of discarded electronic materials, such as computer boards, keyboards, solar panels, LEDs, wires and other electronic materials. We seek to promote artistic recycling and, by transforming computer boards into the feathers of the headdresses, we symbolize the connection between nature and ancestral spirits. We incorporate solar panels into the bodies of the cyborgs so that they can connect to the sun and recharge their energy.

Traditional graphics become circuits that connect the bodies and spirits of the Indigenous cyborgs. Even hunting tools such as bows and arrows are modernized and incorporate artificial intelligence, crafts become technological tools in this new generation of Indigenous people. These transformations allow Indigenous cyborgs to explore new ways of life, mythical powers and abilities afforded by the technologies integrated into their bodies. 

Our artworks involve interactivity, ephemeral and immaterial processes, telepresence and virtual reality. Immersed in cyberculture, Indigenous cyborgs are part of a fascinating universe that unfolds through the infinite interconnected networks of computers, known as cyberspace. In this ethereal realm, ideas, practices, representations, texts and actions flow ceaselessly, generating an interconnectedness unprecedented in human history. We are witnessing a true metamorphosis. Within their systems, Indigenous cyborgs possess geolocation tools that allow them to survey the territory. Equipped with this technological arsenal, they automatically know when deforestation, invasions and other environmental crimes occur. They are defenders of forests, pure water, fauna, flora, blessings and rituals. In other words, they have become even stronger in the fight against the climate and environmental crises that threaten the existence of humanity. 

In addition, recycled art contributes to the utilization and extension of the useful life of materials, reducing the amount of waste. By appreciating this art form, viewers have the satisfaction of knowing that we are contributing to the well-being of the planet by giving a second life to discarded materials.

This educational initiative makes society, especially children, aware of the consequences of our actions on the environment and the importance of recycling. We, the Indigenous cyborgs, are creating a future where technology and ancestry meet.

Budget

The full budget for paying the Indigenous team of artists, coordinator and communicators, Initial communication about the project, Material of creations and compensation for the Indigenous artists and communities involved and video-making material (professional camera, battery ) is : 

14.000$USD (~68.709 $BRL) 

➡️ Full budget details here

Also this project is sponsored by Mycelia, so 10% of the funds received will be sent back to a pool to subsidize the Education Web3 program for Indigenous Peoples autonomy. 

Paulo Desana

Paulo Desana, a talented Indigenous cameraman and photographer, is the founder of Dabukuri Entertainment, a production company dedicated to creating audiovisual content and visual art centered on Indigenous culture. One of his notable projects is titled "Pamürimasa - The Spirits of Transformation", which is based on the mythology of the Canoe Snake and the belief that Indigenous Peoples emerged as artifacts and became human beings by emerging from the Canoe Snake. 

The series of ten photographs features members of various ethnic groups from the Rio Negro, such as shamans, benzedeiros and artisans, both men and women. They are adorned with traditional graphics of each ethnic group, which have deep mythological and cosmological meanings. Luminescent paint is used to represent the manifestation of the spirits of the ancestors as the depicted people go about their daily activities. "Pamürimasa - The Spirits of Transformation'' has been shown in several exhibitions around the world, including Rio de Janeiro, Belém, Brasília, São Paulo, Lisbon and São Luís.

Paulo Desana has also acted as director of photography in several renowned projects, such as the mini documentary "Science and Cooking" about the ant Maniuara in the culture of the Hupdas peoples, as well as in the documentary about the mythology of the Cobra Canoa. He also contributed as a cameraman in the short fiction film "Wuitina Numiá" and in the documentary "O Dabucuri". In addition, his photographic series "E nós, Parentes?" was exhibited at the Festival Arte como Respiro, organized by Itaú Cultural. His works have also been recognized in Indigenous photography awards and selected for exhibitions in several Brazilian cities.

Recently he worked on an NFT project with Indigena Art. 

At the moment, Paulo Desana is immersed in his new project "Ciborguindígena - The Indigenous is the Future!", which combines cybernetic and hybrid elements with mythological references. This fusion creates an empowering representation of Indigenous peoples, valuing their ancestral identities and traditions. The project takes an Indigenous futuristic approach, establishing a new cultural paradigm and inspiring creativity and innovation. In addition, sustainability is a priority, with the use of recycled electronic materials and the promotion of environmental awareness and the preservation of natural resources.

Paulo Desana is a true visionary who continues to challenge the boundaries of Indigenous art, while honoring its origins and engaging with contemporary issues. His contribution to the audiovisual and visual field is undeniable, making him a prominent and inspiring figure in the Indigenous art scene.

Other Indigenous team members will be revealed soon once the project is officialy launched

Links 🔗

• Instagram Paulo Desana
• Arte Indígena Contemporânea - Ep. 7: Paulo Desana
• Indigena Art with Paulo Desana
• Révélation de photographe autochtone, Paulo Desana, participe à une exposition en ligne

Mycelia Sponsoring (🍄,🟢)

Mycelia is an independent project supporting the connection of Indigenous Public Goods (IPGs) to Web3 technologies and platforms such as Gitcoin, with reflection on the Indigenous sovereignty in the Cyberspace in a context of decolonisation.**

10% of the funds received in this project will be sent back to a pool to subsidize the Education Web3 program for Indigenous Peoples autonomy. 

IPGs are public goods provided by Indigenous Peoples and allies such as cultural diversity, ecological knowledge, biodiversity conservation, social and community values, medicine knowledge, ancestral wisdom, native education, languages which go beyond the borders of their communities to have a global impact on the well-being of humanity.