Contradictions (2007-2008) - Filippo Minelli
Editor's Note: When I first came across this project, it made me a bit uneasy. I do understand that the artist is presenting a contrast between an assumption in advanced industrialized countries that technology will revolutionize our lives, and the reality that many parts of the world lack the infrastructure to support those technologies, thus limiting the scope of such a "revolution." But, by grouping these countries together (Mali, Cambodia, and Vietnam) as a flat representative of the developing world, they become just that, a backdrop to make his point. Thoughts?
it is bigoted to use those countries as reduced caricatures, but i don't think we can make a moral call unless we had information on his actions towards specific communities from site to site.
is this guy a dick? or was emotionally involved with the people he depicts?
was the graffiti tagged by someone who actually lived there; a friend of the artist from each online community represented?
Just more visual pollution in my eyes.