The contemporary individual exists in a state of perpetual informational and sensory contact, where the internet is not merely a tool, but an environment. The initial utopia—a state of universal global interconnectedness and access to knowledge—has devolved into a condition of chronic fatigue and emotional blunting.
I view apathy as a predictable response to the conditions of digital oversaturation.
Building on Walter Benjamin’s thesis regarding the loss of art’s «aura"—that is, its individuality and the authenticity of its presence—and its replacement by a «shocking» perception in the age of technical reproducibility, the internet represents the apex of this process. This is further complemented by Herta Lovink’s thesis on contemporary «disappointment with the internet.»
Constant saturation, which initially seemed like something novel, becomes a lifeless routine leading to boredom and apathy. In this way, digital culture provokes mental fatigue.
The painting series «Noise»
The loss of the uniqueness of objects and art breeds mass production and constant sensory impact on the individual, leading to diminished concentration.
140×44cm Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
Fragments
This series creates an atmosphere of oversaturation. I develop fragmented impressions under the influence of the digital world, which causes certain parts of the environment to start «disappearing» because, with an abundance of information, it’s impossible to analyze everything at once—something will definitely be overlooked and vanish.
110×94 cm Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
Fragments
The landscapes of the city surrounding me daily form the foundation of the stories and spaces depicted in my work. The constant return to the same locations creates a unique slice of perception: familiar routes, the same people performing the same actions, yet each time brings a new stream of information accompanying that experience.
70×100 cm Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
Excerpt
50×30cm Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
Fragments
70×40 cm | Part of a private collection Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
50×50 cm Canvas, textured paste, acrylic
Fragments
70×30 cm Canvas, textured paste, acrylic
Painting Series: «Apathy»
Apathy is the «internet disillusionment» described by Hart Lovink, manifesting as exhaustion. Initial enthusiasm and utopian hopes for liberation through enlightenment have been replaced by an understanding of the internet’s role in alienation and mental fatigue.
70×40 cm Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
Apathy emerges as a consequence of this disillusionment and digital oversaturation—a defense mechanism of the psyche that leads to emotional burnout and a state of internal «white noise.»
50×70cm | In a private collection Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
Fragment
50×30cm Canvas, texture paste, acrylic
Triptych 40×40cm, 70×70cm, 70×70cm Canvas, texture paste, acrylic