Arist duo RECYCLE from Krasnodar challenge our faith in the Internet

RECYCLE, Andrey Blokhin (b. 1987) & Georgy Kuznetsov (b. 1985), from Krasnodar represents the very latest generation of Russian artists of the post-perestroika era. In the i-Faith exhibition opening at the Cable Gallery at 17.00 on Wednesday, February 29, they cast doubt on the omnipotent status of the Internet. They created this new installation during a HIAP residency at the Cable Factory.

“The Internet is an independent, transparent structure, and yet it represents one of the most authoritarian regimes of our day. As a system it is as strong and deeply rooted as RELIGION itself. It, too, has its own idols and prophets, its tax-collectors and Pharisees. It decrees its own testament, vows, prayers and seekers. It declares its own sacrifices, judgements, punishments, condemnations and curses,” the artist-duo say. “Internet users believe it to be impartial and immaculate, not like the rudderless, iniquitous Mass Media. No wonder we pin our faith on this ‘DEUS EX MACHINA’.

“Autonomous, heretical structures do exist, with their own anarchistic goals, seeking their own baseless truths. They are either doomed to be swallowed up by the bigger networks, with a limited number of supporters to their name (like the Twelve Disciples at The Last Supper), or they will be marginalized, as happened to Wikileaks. Guided by these parallels, our aim is to re-interpret the image of the The Last Supper, which changes its tune when it is transposed to modern reality.”

In the installation at the Cable Gallery the artists visualize this traditional artwork from behind: we see the Twelve Apostles monitoring the Dow Jones Index, so they can predict the movements of the stock chart, in order to decide what to preach to their congregation next: since this scribble on the wall tells us what pottage we will be eating tomorrow.

“Global social networks have long been converting the masses, and their user numbers are growing exponentially. The size of the Facebook congregation’s flock alone already rivals those of the world religions. In our own pastures each of us creates our own preferred image. By pressing a button we can join a ‘Crusade’, whatever its aims. The Facebook ‘f’ symbol is itself reminiscent of the Cross, with its upper arm bent over to the right – thus confirming that the classical axis can easily be twisted to serve the needs of the present.

Curated by Marita Muukkonen.