Krets4.0 (2023) / S.R.
When I was three years old, we got a family computer. It was a giant white box that we placed in the middle of our living room. I was intrigued by this mysterious machine, and we would soon spend a lot of time together. Though I could not yet read, I quickly, with a little help, was able to access the sites I wanted to explore. There was little to no information about internet safety at this time, so I basically got free range of the computer as long as no one else was using it.
In the beginning, I exclusively used this computer to play online games, which was the only thing anyone of my age would find the computer useful for, but as the internet grew, there would soon be a plethora of sites for me to explore. I don’t think there were many who could predict how much these new inventions would influence our lives over the next twenty years.
We were always excited about how new digital technologies would improve our lives. How they could aid us, connect, teach and entertain us. But now it feels like what was once given to us as an option has become a necessity. I depend so much on it that I don’t even know how I could function without it.
I feel as though all these changes crept up on me, and by the time I became aware of what was happening, it was too late. I never used to question how my use of digital gadgets shaped my life and how I interact with my surroundings, but in recent years, I have been made acutely aware of the potential negative effects it can have on both my mental health and life in general.
I hate the fact that ’m so connected that anyone can reach me at any time of day. The frustration of being addicted to apps and sites littered with advertisements trying to sell me useless products while stealing my attention. How corporations create algorithms to best determine what products they can manipulate me to buy. Or how the new boom in AI technology could change the way we relate to the world forever.
“Krets4.0” (Cicuit4.0) is the fourth rendition of my exploration of the circuit. The circuit is found in all electric apparatuses and is responsible for transferring electricity, data, or signals. In this project, I was drawn to the aesthetics of the circuit as an abstract illustration of the technology that surrounds us. In the same way that the circuit is responsible for transferring information, my previous renditions of this series inform the decisions made for the next one.
The 4th rendition is a series of prints that can be assembled to build a larger piece. Each of the prints is unique but can be put together in order to create a seamless transition. With this series, I wanted to create a physical representation of the technology that surrounds us in our daily lives.
S.R. (NO)
I go by the name S.R. and I have an ever-growing captivation for technology and the relationship between humans and machines. As a huge Science-Fiction nerd, I often wondered how new technological advancements would influence our lives. At what point does utopia become dystopia? This fascination has become a large part of my practice where it’s expressed by abstract geometric pieces.
My formal education began at Stavanger School of Art, where I completed a two-year education in Visual Arts. During these years, I was introduced to printmaking, which would soon become one of my most used mediums. Along with printmaking, I also work with other two-dimensional mediums, such as drawing, painting, and video. When I create my works, I often feel like a one-person factory; all the decisions regarding the piece have been made in advance, and I am left as a cog in the machine. Removed from thought and uncertainties, I can focus solely on the work that needs to be done.
In the fall of 2022, I started my bachelor’s degree in fine arts at the University of Bergen, where I am currently in my second year.