The 2020s: Sacred Brands and Disposable Gods, Presented with Limited Ad Interruptions
Venue: Newark Works ● BA2 3DZ ● click for map
Private View ● Fri 22 May ● 6pm ‘til late
Exhibition open 23 May to 6 June ● 11am - 6pm
Between the rapidly evolving technology of our time and the chaos of our world it's easy to feel like we’re living in the future. But what if we imagined ourselves instead as an ancient civilization?
I’ve invited artists to re-imagine our current decade through the eyes of a civilization from the distant future. Disconnected from their cultural context, what stories would be told about the artefacts we’ve left behind? How would a civilization as far removed from us as we are from the Babylonians imagine our lifestyle and values? This exhibit was created as an invitation for both visitors and artists to explore these questions.
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Welcome to the 2020s. Our records of this time period are limited, as early humans evolved digital mass communication for the first time. Although we can’t know exactly what they felt, we can imagine how overwhelming it must have been to deal with the social isolation of a global pandemic, rapid technological evolution and the culture of consumerist identity. Historians theorize that people of the 2020s felt troubled by questions of identity, hope and meaning. A time of both turmoil and tradition, these diverse peoples persisted without any of our modern comforts. Visitors are invited to explore the lives of these ancient peoples who expressed their anxieties and their hopes through art.
You’ll see work in a variety of media, including sand sculptures, paintings on smartphones and traditional canvases, installation pieces, pastel drawings, embroidery, interactive digital art, and film. The art contains numerous historical strands of the 2020s, including social media, consumerism, Covid-19, political figures, environmentalism, historical restoration, and contemporary social life. Connect with the lives and emotions of our ancient ancestors!
Exhibiting Artists:
Annie Jeffs, Benedict Robinson, Common Ground Theatre (ft. Duncan Tincello and Maren Berland), Dawn Woolley, Faisal Anwar, Ivilina Kouneva, John Carroll, Jacqueline Hughes, Seitaro Yamazaki, Sam B Kennedy, Thomas James.
Curator Roxanne Darby
Curated by Roxanne Darby
Roxanne Darby is a freelance writer, performer and artist based in Gloucestershire. She is interested in intersections between art, culture and current affairs. Roxanne is passionate about exploring questions on propaganda, human memory and identity through storytelling. Her background is in Russian and Slavic Studies, with a particular interest in Soviet propaganda and Russian fairytales. This is her first time curating an exhibition.