Today, more than ever, people have an overwhelming desire to be heard. There are now so many methods of communication that it is possible for almost anyone to communicate with an unrestricted and undefined audience. The Internet, in particular, provides a multitude of platforms from which people can communicate. Being able to talk, discuss, vent and argue in this way can be considered therapeutic. In a world where there are many opportunities to share personal thoughts and opinions, it is questionable whether the true purpose of this type of communication is to relay information or whether it is predominantly a cathartic process. This exhibition features several contemporary art projects that explore this concept and address the reasons why people like to communicate when they cannot be sure who (if anyone) is listening. ----------------------------------------------------------- HELLO WORLD! OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP LISTENING AND LOVE THE NOISE (2008) by Christopher Baker examines the world of participatory media and the ‘fundamental human desire to be heard’. The power of participatory media derives from the active participation of many people. Individuals involved in this project fulfil their desire to be heard, by broadcasting personal thoughts and feelings, whilst actively participating in something much bigger. No emphasis is placed on what the participants are actually talking about. It seems that having the potential to be heard is more important than knowing explicitly whether anyone is listening. ----------------------------------------------------------- JOURNAL OF THE COLLECTIVE ME (2009) by Brian Piana delves into the world of Twitter and identifies the egocentric nature of such social platforms. Twitter provides a place for people to talk about themselves in an audacious and unrestrained manner. Users voice their opinions, vent their frustration and announce their feelings and intentions. Due to the vast global audience, users express themselves to a non-specific and ever-changing audience. ----------------------------------------------------------- ANTHROPOSTS (2010) by Noah Pedrini addresses the transiency of information and the significance of context. Taking post-it notes out of their intended context renders them as random fragments of information. Primarily people write these notes for themselves; or for a specific, restricted audience. This outward expression of internal thoughts and ideas may be part of a process of clarification or identification. The act of translating ideas into written form makes them physical and tangible, giving them validity. ----------------------------------------------------------- THE WORRY BOX PROJECT (2011) by Irene Lusztig & CONFESS (2004) by Stewart Smith both put emphasis on the power of anonymity and consider the cathartic process of expressing private thoughts anonymously. This practice does not invite any response; submitting worries, anxieties and secrets namelessly eliminates the potential for judgement and criticism. ----------------------------------------------------------- SILENCE (2002) by Olga Kisseleva takes the idea of the unknown listener to another level. There is no intended or expected audience; there is no permanent record of the thoughts or feelings expressed. It is a private experience. Temporary fulfilment is found in the process of: Extracting internal thoughts, seeing them move around the screen and then watching them disappear.