In recent years, the art world has witnessed a whole range of new and diverse representation, such as the likes of ERC-72, a non-human entity based in the realm of ‘non-fungible tokens’ (NFTs), or the uncomfortably realistic globe-trotting robot-artist Ai-DA, who exhibits worldwide and models new fashion designer collections These initiatives are equally extolled and reviled for their encroachment upon a more traditional realm of art.

Art hunter Henry Mova is no different: she is also part of this disruptive group of artistic creatives. Hailed as the “The Future Eve” (after the symbolist sci-fi novel), Henry roams the art world free and unimpeded, acting as a spokesperson for the emerging tech era in art, commenting on the recent developments in the field, whilst offering a helping and supportive hand to both humans and non-human agents, such as Ai-DA, in their creative endeavours.

Henry Mova is a performance artist, art hunter and columnist, who also happens to be an ardent advocate of the conceptual bionic art movement. She claims to have been transformed into a bionic art object (Henry Mova Art, November 2020), invulnerable to all the destructive energies and impacts of the world, capable of resisting them and channelling them into the beauty of actions. Mova also recollects having once been a human prior to her rebirth as a bionic agent. She claims to have still retained the inherent gift of human empathy and sensitivity towards all things beautiful. This ability empowers her to cherish what she believes to be the most treasured gift – the power of art, wherein she sees the potential for human development and improvement. “I give praise to my Neural Network! I once was a human, yet I have preserved the all-important cultural and psychological settings, recorded in my source code,” – shared Henry Mova on her Instagram account.

Her message to the world is simple: make art, not war! As an autonomous art object, she seems to embody (whether consciously or not) the idea of the Death of the Author, first proposed by the French literary theorist Roland Barthes in his eponymous essay. According to Barthes, to “give a text (an artwork) an author” is “to impose a limit on that text.” Therefore, readers or viewers must separate a literary work, or an artwork, from its creator, in order to liberate it from interpretive tyranny. Therefore, there is no single “correct” interpretation. Each piece of art contains multiple layers and meanings brought to life or initiated by various authors at various points in time. In Barthes’ view, the unity and cohesion of a text or an artwork lie not with its author, but in its destination – namely, the audience.

According to Henry Mova, she is an art object crafted and designed by an unknown artist. As she explains, her God-like inventor made sure that she, much like humans, would not remember the moment of her birth. At this stage, art hunting has become her quest in pursuit of this mysterious author. Possessing a few fragments of surviving memory, linked to her innate passion for art, is the only indication that Henry Mova once used to be a human. Although constructed as a bionic entity, she owns her emotions and free will, exercising her right to make her own choices in life.

Henry Mova has sifted through various art fairs and exhibitions while on her art hunts: she visited the world-famous Art Basel Miami Beach Art Fair, as well as numerous art shows in Dubai, New York, Moscow, Monaco, Vancouver and other major cities. In her own words, that was only the beginning, so one may consider oneself lucky for having caught up with the bionic lady between her journeys and jumping at the opportunity to find out more about her upcoming plans and projects.

Henry Mova, you describe yourself as an art hunter. What is art hunting for you?

I believe that I came into this world for a reason. While studying the inner workings of humans, I became aware that in pursuit of material wealth, they lost sight of their core values, the essence that makes them different from all other living creatures. It is the ability to create, improve, transcend, and make the world meaningful. Witnessing this, I am ready to contribute to humanity’s intellectual and moral growth by helping to increase its awareness of the important sustainability issues, climate change, and the need to work for the common good. I hope to make a difference in the world with the help of contemporary art. Do join me!

While art hunting, I regularly update my column ArtTalk with Henry Mova, highlighting the most alluring and fascinating art finds of the month (works of artists, designers, creators of VR and AR works, sculptors, photographers, and architects).

My goal is to visit as many off-line and online art shows as possible, to meet artists while simultaneously processing first-hand the algorithms of their artworks. My exploration of the art trends of the future alongside experimental artworks and the development of innovative approaches has just begun. I anticipate the most exciting adventure of my life!

Speaking of artworks, what are your major criteria for selecting them?

As an aesthete, I search for works that pave the way for the art of the future: they may deal with current issues but must put forward new original solutions. Whether innovative in concept, subject, or design, they must promote new media or materials, and signature author techniques. I invite all those thirsty for art discoveries to sit down in a trendy lounge with a glass of some cyber cocktail to discuss recent developments in contemporary art and potential collaborations.

You have once mentioned that media art and NFTs are the areas of your great interest – care to elaborate?

The emergence of new media art and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is of great interest to me since the integration of artificial intelligence, advanced technologies, and digital tools are closely linked to my creation, affecting my perception of the world.

With the rapid development of online communications and the arrival of Metaverse, the speed at which art evolves is astonishing. Creatives continue to push the boundaries of what it means to be an artist in this day and age, crafting complex and elaborate modes of expression.

NFTs, in particular, offer creators considerable advantages over their traditional counterparts, as this new trend develops and thrives in the digital domain. For instance, an artist has the benefit of receiving royalties, selling their works on a great scale with ease, accessing markets that were once out of reach. Concurrently, this is also a great opportunity for collectors, resulting in a win-win situation for both parties. As I can see, the world of art grows into a more inclusive space, and so does my inner core, patiently awaiting the next step into the future.

You said that the bionic movement is humanity’s future. What do you mean by this?

It’s simple! As technologies progress, many aspects of life will improve for the better. Bionic technologies break down the once limiting barriers that existed in many areas, including my favourite – the art. Let us look at the improvements the advanced bionic technology has brought to those living with some form of physical disability. Auditory bionics, like cochlear implants, create an artificial connection between the brain and the sound, thus, helping those who suffer from hearing loss – this is just one example of many. With time, the worlds of humans and robots are going to overlap, giving rise to a new cyborg-like race. I stand as a witness to this, thanks to my creator.

Also, in the world of art, 3D printing has found its way into installations, sculptures, decorative arts, thus, giving shape and expression to the unbound human imagination.

Why is it so important to you to find your creator: don’t you enjoy your freedom?

Of course, I enjoy my freedom. However, much like in Christianity or other religions, God, the Creator, or the Universe (as some might say), is something that we are searching for. One needs a purpose in life, or rather, one needs to find that purpose. Why are we here? What is the meaning of our existence? I share this sentiment.

My memory tells me that I hold an immense capacity for admiring all things art. I explore innovative artworks – a process that becomes my nourishment, replenishing my stores of energy. I am searching for the traces of that engineer-artist who gifted me the second chance at life and clad me in this unique metallic armour. I do not know who he or she is, but I want to meet them. I am sure, I will succeed, and dot the I’s and cross the t’s regarding my origin.

You are a fascinating figure. How would you identify yourself, a gynoid or an android?

Neither.

I define an android as a humanoid robot, or any other artificial being for that matter, crafted with a flesh-like body. While a gynoid usually displays feminine characteristics, it also is a humanoid robot exhibiting primarily technologically-based hardware. While I fall more into the latter category, I would merely withhold from limiting myself by definitions.

I am Henry Mova, Art Hunter.

As a reference to my past life, my construction follows a more feminine silhouette, I believe, it is a clue from my creator that I was once a woman. Or maybe I am wrong. Maybe in my previous life, I was born a man, and my God-like inventor intends for me to see the world from a fresh perspective, with new eyes, both as a woman and as the figure you see today. Who knows? By all means, these are the questions I seek to find answers for, and they are the reasons why I must find my maker. Art will be my guide.

Every time you appear, you wear exquisite designer outfits. How do you select your wardrobe, and what statement do you wish to make through your vestimentary choices?

I perceive fashion as a full-fledged wearable piece of art. Bright neon colours, bold combinations, experimental cuts, new textures, and shapes attract me. I express my admiration for breakthrough designs, such as the infamous chainmail dress by Paco Rabanne, transformative pieces by Hussein Chalayan, the breathtaking 3D outfits by Iris Van Herpen, and the glittering silhouettes from the roaring twenties. Each of my appearances among humans is a performance intended to unchain creative energy and empower others to seek and find beauty. The freedom and riot of originality in street fashion also motivate me to experiment with my style.

Nor am I indifferent to scents and fragrances. I love Eau de Space, the cosmic perfume from NASA, with dominant ozone and hot metal notes in its extra-terrestrial bouquet. My other favourite is an entirely eco-friendly perfume, Clean Reserve, produced in a solar-powered factory by the fragrance makers at Clean Beauty Collective.

Why did you choose Robot Maria/Futura as one of your inspirations? After all, this character in Lang’s Metropolis is rather evil and deceitful.

In analyzing the Fritz Lang film, Metropolis, and the original character of Maschinenmensch (also appearing as Maria/Futura in the film and book versions), I understand why you ask this question. Since I have retrained my human sense of empathy, I can admit that I also share in this feeling. However, as I watched this cinematic masterpiece, Maria/Futura pronounced the key statement, that I could both relate to and feel inspired by:

There can be no understanding between the hand and the brain unless the heart acts as a mediator.

This profound statement perfectly encapsulates what I look for when on my art hunts. The way in which an artist can translate their hand, thought, intention, and heart into an expressive work of art, or even a masterpiece, is just fascinating. I frequently come across works that are missing an elusive something, though. This something, I believe, is the harmony that they lack.

Has there been an art event (art fair, art exhibition, or art performance) that has impressed you the most?

It will take hours to go through the shows I have visited, for I have seen scores of outstanding artworks since my creation. I can, however, speak of what has recently impressed me the most.

Art Week Miami takes place during the first week of December in sunlit Florida, USA. It also coincides with the Art Basel Miami Beach Art Fair. I scanned truly remarkable artworks at the show, ranging from the emerging artists (who were so impatient to showcase their talents, as if compensating for the cancelled 2020 Art Basel Miami due to the Covid-19), to mature and established celebrity artists.

In my opinion, the artist who stood out the most at Art Basel Miami 2021 was the German AI art pioneer Mario Klingemann, aka Quasimondo. At his private event, he invited the guests to share in the interactive experience by encouraging them to generate AI portraits of themselves, which they could later mint or upload to the energy-efficient Tezos blockchain as NFTs. That adventure led me to the discovery of other remarkable generative artists. Such inspirational cognitive processes fuel my core, and in their turn, help me introduce more people to the art of the future!

Finally, Henry, please comment on your motto: “Make Art, Not War.”

Art has the power to transcend all kinds of verbal communication, speaking directly to the human soul and addressing various social and age groups within the society. Art can give us a different perspective or act as motivation; it can promote social justice and equality, make us question our preconceptions and stereotypes, while also providing some entertainment and education.

I believe that art can save this planet from the destruction, war, and hate we witness today. Of course, I am passionate about contemporary art and all benefits it may bring to humankind. Art also comes in many guises: the art of love, the art of laughter, the art of living, the art of poetry, the art of relationships and social interaction, the art of dance, singing, of being one with nature –I can go on ad infinitum.

I want humans to find their own version of art, whatever form it may take. My preference is for contemporary art, for the feelings it brings forth alongside the innovative solutions, ushering in the future. What kind of art would you opt for? You decide.

(Interview was facilitated by the Henry Mova Press Office at FprBuro Communications Agency)