Daily Stream: Conflict in My Outlook

On the list of life and societal changes that have come out of the pandemic, one of the more positive outcomes is increased online access to exhibitions in far-flung parts of the world. For example, most of us wouldn't have the means to venture to the University of Queensland Art Museum in Australia for its new exhibition, Conflict in My Outlook, but it's available to view virtually through March 1 and it's made to be seen on the same devices we use for social engagement.

The 10 artists and one collective contribute work focused on the internet, reflecting on the erosion of the line between online engagement and real life and the power of social media to simultaneously unite and divide, enlighten and perplex. For example, Matthew Griffin makes a series of comical Instagram videos from manipulated footage of the President and his cabinet for Rumination State, and Xanthe Dobbie's Wallpaper Queens works as an interactive quiz a la Buzzfeed that you can take to determine which "queen" you are in Dobbie's virtual court (I was pleased with my result: "Lexie, systematic sass queen".)

Trawling the darker side of the web, Natalie Bookchin collages YouTube videos that meld citizen journalism with opinion, conspiracy thinking, and propaganda, starting with videos focused on birtherism—a salad of words, stares, and lo-fi graphics—for Now he's out in public and everyone can see. And Chicks on Speed's Drone Hits, vol. 1 (pictured at top of page) combines imagery like meme-friendly pictures of adorable cats and archive footage of the Beatles with song lyrics updated or recontextualized for a conflict-riddled surveillance state, presented karaoke-style at the bottom of the frame.

Explore Conflict in My Outlook via conflictinmyoutlook.online