Book Design | 368 Pages IMAGO is a research driven book that examines how identity is shaped through systems of reflection, from myth and philosophy to artificial intelligence and machine vision. The project traces how mirrors evolve from optical surfaces into structures that observe, generate, and define the self.
The title IMAGO comes from Latin, meaning image or likeness. It refers to the internal and external forms through which identity is constructed, shaped by what reflects, records, and watches.
PrologueThe prologue moves from water to mirror, from singular reflection to infinite repetition. Two mirrors converge, producing an endless corridor that fractures the image into true and false selves. The sequence circles back to Narcissus, where reflection begins and ends. This passage serves as the reader’s entry into the book’s central logic.
ChaptersEach chapter is named after an anatomical site or corporeal condition. The sequence forms a conceptual anatomy that maps systems of vision, technology, and power from perception to absence.
(1) The EyesThe Eyes explores the origin of reflection. Vision functions as the first site of self formation, where recognition establishes the relationship between subject and image.
(2) The BrainThe Brain shifts reflection inward. Perception becomes cognitive, shaped by interpretation, memory, and internal processing rather than sight alone.
(3) The SkinThe Skin marks the boundary between body and system. Reflection becomes mechanical, as machine vision and generative models turn surfaces into interfaces for sensing and classification.
(4) The NervesThe Nerves focuses on networks and feedback. Reflection operates through transmission and prediction, where simulation replaces representation.
(5) The SpineThe Spine connects reflection to structure and power. Systems of observation align vision with control, governance, and discipline.
(6) The WoundThe Wound reveals failure within reflective systems. Error, bias, and distortion expose the instability behind claims of objectivity.
(7) The GhostThe Ghost considers what escapes reflection. It gestures toward opacity, refusal, and forms of presence beyond constant visibility.