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How do we create meaning while filtering through all the content in a society saturated with information? This artist talk that took place at the PHI Centre is an opportunity to discover and learn more about an artist whose practice captures the ethos and explorations of our institution.

Known for his large-scale recontextualizations of popular and found imagery, Marco Brambilla is constantly pioneering new digital imaging technologies in video installation and art. Marco Brambilla's latest work, Heaven's Gate, was on display at the PHI Centre during the summer of 2022 alongside Horizons VR, an exhibition that explores how XR can be used to engage with contemporary social issues and tell human stories.

"Digital Innovation has progressed at an astounding rate over the last few years. We have witnessed a transformation in our societies and a revolution in communications. Always at the vanguard and trying to make sense of these changes while engaging with them artistically, Marco Brambilla's work creates a space for us to rethink how we integrate these technologies into our everyday lives.

He's been active since the 1980s, constantly changing and evolving his output. He began his career in Hollywood as a filmmaker before expanding his vision toward contemporary art. His pieces experimented with multi channel video installation, while also creating works for augmented reality, virtual reality and transformed offers into hybrid digital performances.

Now he's exploring more and more the new creative possibilities of artificial intelligence. The themes underpinning his work include surveillance, pop culture, presence, the sense of inertia associated with modern development, the collective imagination, fact versus fiction, real versus unreal and speculation about our future. He approaches his subjects with a critical lens to reveal the hidden tensions at play. His approach always conveys a lyrical and playful tone, exploring how the revolution in communication might affect our lives and how we are influenced by new technological advancements.

He manages, however, to remove the negative aspects and reframe them in a way that pulls out our emotions, stimulates our sense of wonder, and creates a space for reflection. He's a film connoisseur and a big fan of science fiction."

—Phoebe Greenberg