"Future Shock" at Lisson Gallery

 The human experience is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, shaped by a variety of external forces that influence our perceptions of self and others. From the media we consume to the technology we use, our understanding of the world is often mediated by external factors, calling into question the very nature of our own identity and agency. The ‘Future Shock’ exhibition at the Lisson Gallery invites us to contemplate the impact of these external forces on our own perceptions and to explore the ways in which we construct and deconstruct our own sense of self. 

The exhibition shows a wide range of artists and mediums. Such as Tony Oursler's video installations "Keep Going (little man)"(1995) and "Animal III" (1994),  Trevor Shimizu's 2013 oil painting "Times Square Shrek, Minion, James P. Sullivan", and Josh Kline’s 2019 sculpture ‘Submersion’. All these works share a common thread in their exploration of the human experience and the impact of external forces on an individual.

The works in the gallery are mostly large and in your face demanding your attention. This alone translates the thesis of the exhibition as being a viewer you are assaulted by an assortment of external pieces. This idea is clearly demonstrated in Tony Conrad’s exhibited work ‘WiP’ which confronts the viewer with a life-size jail cell and flashing LED projection. 

‘Future Shock’ at the Lisson Gallery acts as a catalyst for self-reflection on how much our rapidly expanding exteriors affect our sense of self.