The power of social media on people’s identities lent itself to the world of art in an upcoming exhibition titled Media Monster.
This exhibition is a collaborative effort between Cape Town-based artist Rayaan Cassiem and Johannesburg-born Nic Hooper, and evolved from an online conversation the two had.
The exhibition explores the effects of social media on people’s identities and choices and is the artists’ collective response to the medium. The exhibition will be hosted by Two by Two art studio.
According to Juliet White of Two by Two, the exhibition will also explore the idea of creating a mask that is considered socially acceptable.
“Social media is a convenient and powerful tool for connecting people, sharing ideas and presenting oneself to the rest of the world,” she said.
She added that the idea of how the online profiles people created could turn into their own monster was also another theme explored by the two artists.
“Online profiles, much like adverts, lead us to believe we are buying into the kind of lifestyle we want to have. It’s not about who you are, but how you want to be known,” she explained.
Both artists were brought together by their passion for graffiti and street art and are largely influenced by graphic design, comic books, animation and fine art.The exhibition opens on 24 April from 6pm to 9pm. Two by Two art studio is located in Newtown.
