Exhibition: Can I Be Content Already?
"The mid-21st century mind might almost be infantilised, characterised by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to emphasise and a shaky sense of identity."
EXHIBITIONS
10/17/20231 min read
Can I Be Content Already? Acrylic and black slip on paper clay. November 2020
Whitecliffe College and Sanderson Contemporary. Auckland, New Zealand
"The mid-21st century mind might almost be infantilised, characterised by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to emphasise and a shaky sense of identity."
These clay pots are made up from individual pieces. Based on planters, they represent a container for growth. Precariously stacked into posts, they appear larger or more important, with words indicating a hoped-for self. These works address an emerging future where idealised reality is more attractive than real life.
In the current age, entertainment is a prioritised part of the online experience. The user takes in a range of content and while some things are subscribed to, some are random images and some are ads that are paid to be in front of us. Some posts are opinions from other people who affirm our beliefs by presenting us with information we agree with.
In using clay, the pots orient us toward their haptic qualities and what is actually infront of us. There is a focus on the senses, grounding oneself in the physical world. Clay's tactility allows the participant to step away from pseudo-reality, and into the life that exists right here.
-Susan Greenfield, Mind Change