Joan Linder Probes Into the ‘Fulfillment’ of Society’s Digital Compulsions

Joan Linder Probes Into the ‘Fulfillment’ of Society’s Digital Compulsions

As a dedicated gamer and art enthusiast, I’ve always been intrigued by the intersection of technology and reality. The latest exhibition at Cristin Tierney Gallery in New York, titled “Fulfillment” by Joan Linder, resonated deeply with me on a personal level. The sight of towering stacks of Amazon boxes, adorned with the ubiquitous smiley logo, evoked a sense of both fascination and unease.


As I walked into Cristin Tierney Gallery’s newest exhibition, it didn’t really feel like an art show to me. Instead, it was more like a familiar sight you’d come across on any street around the globe. There were piles of boxes all over the Nolita space, and many of them bore the iconic Amazon smiley logo. It was as if these towering totems represented an omnipresent force that rules our society’s insatiable urge to buy things.

Joan Linder, an artist hailing from New York and residing in Buffalo, explores through her work “Fulfillment” the often unnoticed connections between us and the technological systems we use daily. These systems range from online marketplaces to cryptocurrency mining. Linder, renowned for her vivid paintings of people and objects, was drawn to the allure and repulsion of the physical consequences of digital shopping.

The artist set up camp outside businesses dealing with e-commerce in Buffalo and Niagara, New York. Using an accordion notebook, he sketched images of various distribution centers, data processing facilities, and language commonly found in “terms of service” agreements from companies like Meta and Amazon. Linder’s works mimic the appearance of delivery boxes. According to Cristin Tierney Gallery, these creations bear marks that tell their story – from the supply chain to the distribution center to the end user. By exploring the physical impact of our digital shopping habits, Fulfillment brings attention to the hidden costs.

Fulfillment will be on view in New York until August 9, 2024.

Cristin Tierney Gallery
219 Bowery Floor 2,
New York, NY 10002

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2024-07-19 02:56