Kevin Abosch
Photo: courtesy of the artist
Kevin Abosch
Ireland born 1969
Ground Level
NGV International
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PROJECT
Kevin Abosch’s images of masses of protesters, police, fire and urban pressure speak to the global fragility of civic norms, the threat of autocracy – and the role of artificial intelligence (AI), surveillance and manipulated information in abetting this.
Abosch’s interest in photojournalism is a starting point for his exploration of ‘synthetic photography’, specifically these deepfakes of scenes depicting civil unrest across the world. It is unclear at first glance if these are scenes of past riots and protests or if they are breaking news. For Abosch, they can be seen as future news.
In recent years, the artist has observed the complex interplay between truth, photography and current affairs. Deepfake videos, images and audio recordings are increasingly ubiquitous, propagating disinformation that results in real consequences. Abosch’s #CIVICS works reflect the current social climate, where public trust in what is seen and heard is increasingly eroded. Adding to the fake news aspects of the project, Abosch’s headlines and news tags are fed onto a digital news board.
ABOUT
Kevin Abosch is an Irish conceptual artist who works across traditional mediums as well as with generative methods including machine learning and blockchain technology. Abosch’s work addresses the nature of identity and value by posing questions and responding to sociological dilemmas. Abosch’s work has been exhibited throughout the world, often in civic spaces, including the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg; the National Museum of China; the National Gallery of Ireland; Jeu de Paume, Paris; the Irish Museum of Modern Art; the Museum of Contemporary Art Vojvodina, Novi Sad; the Bogotá Museum of Modern Art; ZKM (Zentrum für Kunst und Medien), Karlsruhe; and Dublin Airport.
Courtesy of the artist