In an era where everything is aestheticized—nature, society, and even identity—We aestheticize and want to protect almost everything, including Earth, oceans, the atmosphere, rare animal species and exotic plants. Becoming an Artwork explores how modern individuals are increasingly compelled to treat their own lives as aesthetic projects. Philosopher Boris Groys traces the evolution of self-design, revealing how the human subject has shifted from passive object to active creator, striving to appear as a self-fashioned work of art.
Yet this freedom comes with paradoxes. While we are encouraged to shape our image, we do so under the constant gaze and judgment of others. Groys argues that our aesthetic responsibility is not entirely our own—before we begin to design ourselves, we are already shaped by external perceptions. The result is a complex struggle for visibility, legacy, and control over how we are seen both in life and beyond death.
Combining philosophy, art theory, and cultural analysis, Becoming an Artwork offers a powerful reflection on identity, authorship, and the aesthetics of the self in contemporary life.
Physical Info: 4.8 x 0.4 x 7.4 inches | 140 Pages | Paperback
Theory Redux Series