Venturing out for some culture on Sunday afternoon, my partner and I found ourselves at the Nick Cave (artist, not singer) exhibition, ‘Until’, currently being staged at Carriage Works in Everly, Sydney. A fine example of immersive work that raises questions, peaks emotions and disturbs sensibilities.
More disturbing than the artwork however was the intrusion of the mobile phone. We couldn’t walk more than a few steps without running into someone trying to take a selfie, without seeing a tourist tilting head forward, shoulder back with hand on hip or a young couple capturing their happiness to the artistic backdrop.
The exhibition has four different immersive experiences and many patrons seemed to be missing the point by trying to insert themselves into the surroundings, smiling and posting on social media.
Not only was it increasingly frustrating to walk through having to avoid being an accidental photo bomber while people persistently set about recording themselves, but I started to get annoyed on behalf of the artist, his work was,
One section of the exhibition is a room with multiple projections. The floor an ocean of waves moving over rocks, the walls change from large all-seeing eyes to a questioning of historically inappropriate racial symbols. Yet one young woman seemed to think this was a good place to take sexy videos, contorting her body as best she could with arm reaching out at full extension, faithful camera phone in hand. No shame in the fact that others were in the room wanting to appreciate the artwork, it was suddenly her private backdrop to an array of lurid poses. I’m no prude. I don’t mind a little lurid pose every now and then, but it felt a little yuck seeing an artwork used out of context.
I walked away muttering a deep discontent for fellow visitors and a little broken hearted for the artist and the organisers of the exhibition, disturbed by the fundamental selfishness of the selfie. I was angry at my fellow humans for their shallowness and lack of consideration, collectively displaying an inability to act with regard for others, not just the artist but other patrons like myself that actually wanted to appreciate the
The mobile phone has brought many advantages, but it’s hard not to judge it as a major culprit in the degradation of manners and appropriate social
What do you think? Am I just a cranky misanthrope or do I have a valid point?
Evan Shapiro
Author – Road to Nowhere
Valid point
I agree 10000 percent, Evan. In a venue like this, the organizers of the show should set out table or a room where all mobile phones are collected with names of patrons and then haNdedcback to them when they leave. Just making a sign “pleSe contactable selfish inside the show” wouldn’t work. Nobody would pay attention to that polite request, even if signed by the artist. What do you think?
I agree. I’d like to see more exhibitors take that kind of approach. There are plenty of occasions and exhibitions where phone use is valid and even encouraged. But where it’s inappropriate then they should be checked. Patrons are used to checking in their bags etc so I don’t see why they wouldn’t get used to it. I’ve been to a number of film premiers that require phones be checked in.
Fair point.
In fact I’d go further and impose a narcissism tax on selfies – maybe some kind of sliding scale with abuse of art and love of food right up there.