ECHO
Nye Thompson

Pressrelease

25 November 2021 – 28 February 2022*

ECHO explores the mechanisms of the gaze generated by technology in contemporary society. Nye Thompson analyzes the images produced by satellites and the mechanisms by which these images are generated. According to the artist, “a rapidly growing satellite ecosystem tracks and records our world and activity. This divine vertical gaze inspires megalomaniacal dreams and plans, transforming a dehumanized socio-geography into aesthetics and the visible world into data and potential military targets. This relationship is marked by non-reciprocity: the satellites see us in more and more vivid details, and we barely see them and we are rarely even inclined to try. ”

In the project, Nye Thompson creatively explores our relationship with these hard-to-see systems – looking for ways to generate a mutual gaze. Starting from the premise that the perspective from which we look at the world has changed from a horizontal “face to face” human view to a “God-like” superhuman vertical view, the exhibition talks about the changes in the view of our planet that are in consequently, the result of economic and military struggles that are taking place at the level of the stratosphere.

 ”A fast growing ecosystem of satellites is watching and recording our world and our activity. This godlike vertical gaze inspires megalomaniac dreams and plans, turning a dehumanised socio-geography into aesthetics and the visible world into data and potential military targets. It is also largely unreciprocated: the satellites see us in increasingly vivid detail. We barely see them and are rarely even inclined to try.”

Nye Thompson (UK) is an artist turned software designer turned artist. She is known for her experimental software architectures exploring network-embedded power dynamics and machinic visions of the world. In 2016 her first solo show Backdoored.io – described by C4 News as “too shocking to broadcast” – became global clickbait and triggered an international government complaint. Since then, Thompson has exhibited around the UK, and internationally, including Tate Modern, The Barbican, The Lowry, The V&A, ZKM Karlsruhe, Ars Electronica and The Louvre. Thompson was the recipient of the Lumen Prize Gold Award 2021 for her short film UNINVITED, made in collaboration with UBERMORGEN. She has been called “the new Big Brother” (Vogue) and “a contemporary Jacques Cousteau” (Bob & Roberta Smith). Her work is included in the V&A Museum National Collection, as well as international and UK private collections.

Partners: National Theater Marin Sorescu, Revista ARTA
Cultural project co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. The AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or the manner in which the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding recipient.