The Axel Stockburger Exhibition at the Secession: Examining Virtual Reality and Internet Culture

This exhibition by Axel Stockburger references the societal changes brought about by computers and the internet, exploring the downsides of virtual reality and information overload. It features installations that question constant interaction and the nature of digital communication.

Axel Stockburger's exhibition at the Secession delves into the profound societal shifts introduced by computers and the internet, and the culture that has emerged around them. The artist critically engages with the phenomenon of virtual realities, which increasingly compete with and merge into concrete reality, without succumbing to a conservative fear of new media. The exhibition is divided into four interconnected parts, each exploring different facets of virtual worlds through diverse materialities. Visitors encounter a cable network running through the gallery spaces, with non-functional joysticks at its nodes, questioning the possibilities of constant interaction and individual control. Sequences from the encryption software PGP, a tool for direct and largely uncontrollable online communication, are presented as C-prints on vinyl, referencing the medium of the traditional panel painting. Stockburger further explores information overload with the video installation 'Most Wanted,' which rapidly displays images of the world's most visited websites on opposing monitors, making content absorption impossible and highlighting how the internet's perceived qualities can become mere phrases. Another video work reflects on the individual navigating computer-generated spaces and examines the remnants of physical reactions observed in players of 3D computer games. These works position the exhibition as an empirical setup where visitors actively participate in the ongoing interaction between humans and computers.

Ticketing information is available via a link to the Secession shop. The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Current opening hours are displayed on the page.