“The spectacle erases the dividing line between self and world, in that the self, under siege by the presence/absence of the world, is eventually overwhelmed; it likewise erases the dividing line between true and false, repressing all directly lived truth beneath the real presence of the falsehood maintained by the organization of appearances. The individual, though condemned to the passive acceptance of an alien everyday reality, is thus driven into a form of madness in which, by resorting to magical devices, he entertains the illusion that he is reacting to this fate.”
– Guy Debor, The Society of the Spectacle
In this age of digital manipulation, avatars and virtual representations, it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate between the real and the simulated, the simulacra and the simulacrum. This applies not only to the ways in which individuals are perceived by others, but to self-perception as well. Reduced to pixels and imaginary realities, identity crises have given way to identity myths. The concepts of personhood and identity are today more vague and intangible than ever.
The question of who or what one is, and the search for ones place and individuality within a greater society has become more complex, and more ephemeral. How are individuals affected by these ambiguities? How are they affected by those who came before? How do they interact with one another in a digitized space? What digital footprint do they leave behind?
Reflectivism addresses these issues by confronting the participant with their own distorted reflections, blurring the lines between the real and virtual, actual and manipulated, past and present, self and other.
An interactive art installation made of mirrors, lights, projections, glitches and audio drones.
by Serge Maheu (sergemaheu.com) and Norsola Jonhson (norsolajohnson.com)
