Tim Fishlock's new works confront the consequences of social media, narcissism and image overkill

In an upcoming new show, artist Tim Fishlock questions and appraises our information-saturated age and asks us to confront what the deluge of opinion, narcissism and image overkill is doing to our society.

Written By: Tora Baker

15 May 2019

Introversion Immersion at the Hang-Up Gallery in East London tackles the dreaded compulsions of social media and our own existential plight with thought-provoking and playful irreverence. Through his vibrant, text-based paintings, he reflects on our uneasy relationship with technology and how we are a slave to our own invention.

On the inspiration for his new works, he said: "I began to wonder whether it’s people like me, the introverted, who are truly the most self-absorbed and self-centred."

A site-specific lightbox installation titled Introversion Immersion takes over the entire Hang-Up basement bunker. On visiting the exhibition, you'll be invited down into ‘the temple of ME’, an enclosed ‘room’ of 72 light boxes ranged floor to ceiling. Flooded with a beguiling fusion of words and colours, we are confronted with the self-obsessed fiction served up every day and reminded there is no language without deceit.

“In an era when more people than ever get everything they want, everything becomes merely satisfactory. The ‘temple of ME’ proves to be one of unrealistic expectations,” Tim added.

Upstairs, a series of six new paintings entitled Satisfactory Living are unified by the repetition of ME ME ME; Ego, Welcome Me, Handle Me, Provoke Me, Message Me, presented alongside a heavy punchbag (rather humorously), stitched in leather, appliquéd with the word ‘ME’.

The Future Leaks Out, meanwhile, comprises 85 solid wooden blocks in four different lengths referencing the William Burroughs’ quote, "when you cut into the present, the future leaks out". Careful consideration was given to the selection of words, which, like much of the artist’s work, allude to a fairly misanthropic, dystopian world view. This establishes a striking contrast between the subject matter and a material form that is synonymous with childhood creativity and exploration.

On show from 31 May until 13 July 2019, Introversion Immersion at Hang-Up Gallery challenges us to truly look and think about how we live. More on Tim Fishlock at oddlyhead.com.