D E N N I S S V O R O N O S
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Proof of Life
on view at
July 22- September 20, 2020
Proof of Life was conceived as a response to my own affliction with brain cancer, and as an affirmation and exaltation of my continued existence in spite of this diagnosis. In using myself - or the viewer - as the launching point, source of examination or inspiration for the artworks, I am consciously and continuously acknowledging and appreciating our unique and fleeting existence together.
Whether through selfies, live tweets or biometric data, in the 21st century world we live in, there is no end to the tools we have to represent, document and scrutinize our culture and our identity. In a similar way to how the ancient Greeks and Romans used marble and bronze to express their distinct socio-cultural moment, I use iPhones and LEDs to the exact same ends; trying to understand our place and ourselves at this unique time.
Viewing this exhibition currently, through the lens of the novel coronavirus and the ensuing pandemic, it has taken on even more urgency and gravity. We are in an extremely detached cultural period, separated by distance, masks and most importantly, video screens. For many of us, our only ‘proof of life’ since this all began has been through a matrix of technology, connecting us to the avatars, images and experiences of others. Reflecting this, Proof of Life stitches together these complex relationships between humor and horror, data and drama, insights and instinct that have come to define the contemporary moment.
Dennis Svoronos // www.DennisSvoronos.com