Relentless

Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth - Theodor Adorno.

Putting to one side larger, more philosophical arguments, art in its simplest form is about self-expression; the medium this is delivered through is of little consequence. This point has never held more weight than in the modern world. Whether you are a snowboarder punctuating the air with incredible visual spectacles or a street urchin scribbling in subways with marker pen, it’s all art.

But, what happens when you’ve finished, there is a picture taken, and your art is out in the world? Once released, images have a life of their own; they end up online, where they are saved, altered, and passed on. This repurposing of art can have interesting outcomes.

In an exploration of this and some of its most subversive manifestations, London’s Institute of Contemporary Art is midway through running an exhibition called Dispersion. It’s a look at how images disperse and get re-appropriated in the modern world, through the eyes of seven artists, and spanning a range of topics from porn to advertising.

For more information about the show click here