Let The Whole Goddamn Thing Short-Circuit: The Impact Of The Digital On Queer

Quentin Emery's exhibition in Toxi Space Zürich running until April 15th, titled "Let the whole goddamn thing short-circuit", explores the intersection of the physical and virtual realms and the impact of the digital age on the LGBTQIA+ community. The exhibition addresses the disappearance of physical spaces for the community and the emergence of the internet as a tool for connection and interaction.

The show curated by Emery challenges the idealistic view of the internet as a utopian space, highlighting the various forms of violence that can occur, including harassment and physical assault. The exhibition also explores the perpetuation of stereotypes and the impact of these representations on the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as the fusion and opposition between the physical and virtual worlds.

The works of seven LGBTQIA+ artists, Thalia Bassim, Cibelle Bastos, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Corentin Darré, Lucas Larochelle, Su Yang and 4FSB, as well as a piece by the art collective FAFSWAG are featured in the exhibition. They address these very topics of commemoration of violence against the community, the perpetuation of stereotypes, and the relationship between physical and virtual bodies in a series of installations that create diverse immersive experiences for the spectator. The offspace Toxi is turned into a multi-sensory environment that engages the senses and challenges the viewer's perception of reality and society. It raises different questions around the « reality » that ever so different queer people experience around the globe. Through the prism of the digital, their different causes get interpreted in sculptural, virtual and hybrid works of art.

Overall, "Let the whole goddamn thing short-circuit" offers a thought-provoking exploration of the impact of technology on the lives/experiences of the LGBTQIA+, the complex relationship between the physical and virtual worlds, as well as the role that the digital can play in the quest for finding one’s identity and sexuality.

Through Emery's innovative approach to installation art, the exhibition provides a unique and immersive experience that challenges the viewer to consider the impact of technology on their own lives. So if you're around Zürich in the next few weeks, don't hesitate to come and say hi!

Images courtesy of Mercedes Borguńska

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