inflated_ego

inflated_ego (2018), Interactive data-driven installation

SOCIAL THINGS

The Inflated_ego is the first project of the Social Things series. Social Things are hacked everyday objects that dynamically change parameters of their functionality according to real-time data retrieved from social media activity. They critically reflect on issues related to social media (ab)use such as narcissistic behaviors of the digital self, dataveillance and data misuse, and the environmental impact of online social activity. The Social Things series consists of three artworks: inflated_ego, #freeprometheus and eCO₂system.

INFLATED_EGO

The artwork attempts to critically reflect on the over-exposition of a curated digital identity on social media networks and the ceaseless effort to incite digital rewards (likes, positive comments, followers).

Excessive exposition of a curated version of the self is a common behavior on social media. This behavior potentially fuels a narcissistic vicious cycle where the individual promotes a self-enhanced digital identity in order to gain admiration by peer-users. The sculpted identity receives a number of likes that bolsters the narcissist’s positive self-views and encourage further identity-crafting.

A ‘like’ rewards the ceaseless effort to promote a carefully curated view of the self and promote a crafted virtual happiness.

However, what is the value of a ‘like’ in the physical world?

A small amount of air is pumped into the inflated ego balloon every time a social media user likes the SoThi facebook page. Facebook ‘likes’ inflate the SoThi’s ego leading to potential destruction: a succession of multiple ‘likes’ can drive the inflated ego to an explosion.

SoThi is a fictitious personality. Every post of the page is the result of internet searches of generic keywords in databases of public domain pictures and famous quotes. SoThi over-identifies with a stereotypical narcissistic behavior, by over-exposing their perfect life in an ideal world without problems.

Exhibitions:

From Where I Stand group exhibition, Municipal Art Gallery of Larissa – Katsigras Museum. Larissa, Greece, December 2021

Cost of the Future group exhibition. Pochen Biennale. Chemnitz, Germany. October – November, 2020

Extending Reality | CoExistence: Art, Science & Technology group exhibition. Eugenides Foundation. Athens, November 2019

Talk:

“Augmented objects interacting with social media activity” @ Ionian Academy, Corfu, May 2019