Stephanie Rosenthal Curates Mirrorcity at the Hayward Gallery, London

Mirrorcity at the Southbank Centre‘s Hayward Gallery, London, explores the everyday conditions, consequences, and challenges of living in a digital age. Through a selection of recent work and new commissions by established and emerging artists, the exhibition seeks to address the pertinent issues concerning London-living in a technological age. Inspired by JG Ballard’s futurist texts and enthralled by themes of science fiction and new speculative philosophies, Mirrorcity offers an alternative reflection on our current and future existence between the digital and the physical.

Curated by Chief Curator at the Hayward, Stephanie Rosenthal, Mirrorcity‘s engaging and apt content seeks to question the impact of technology today, asking : “How can we navigate the space between the digital and the physical?” and “What is the effect of advanced technologies on our lives?”. With a particular focus on the complex and multi-faceted character of London itself, the exhibition responds to and expands upon Ballard’s belief that reality had already exceeded the visions conjured by science fiction by the end of the 20th century.

Showcasing works from a diverse range of media including painting, film and video, sculpture, drawing, sound and performance, the exhibition features a wide selection of London-based artists: Mohammed Qasim Ashfaq, Anne Hardy, Ursula Mayer, Katrina Palmer, Laure Prouvost, Hannah Sawtell, Lindsay Seers, John Stezaker, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Susan Hiller, Helen Marten, Emma McNally, Daniel Sinsel and Michael Dean. New commissions by LuckyPDF, Karen Mirza and Brad Butler, Tim Etchells, Lloyd Corporation, Pil and Galia Kollectiv, Aura Satz, Tai Shani and Volumes Project, have been specially created in response to the exhibition theme, alongside a collective newspaper by Tom McCarthy.

Aesthetica Magazine speak with Chief Curator Stephanie Rosenthal in Aesthetica Issue 61. Pick up a copy and read the Mirrorcity, Digital Realities article at www.aestheticamagazine.com.

Mirrorcity, runs until 4 January, Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.

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Credits
1. Chief Curator Stephanie Rosenthal, Mirrorcity, Hayward Galley. Courtesy of Crane.tv.