Drawing inspiration from 1960's and 1970's military defense research programs dealing with the exploration of both computer technology and psychic abilities, Taylor Schultek researched the early development of the internet, satellites and digital photography as well as parapsychological programs including MK Ultra and Project Stargate. Seeing that both sides of these government-funded programs essentially sought out the same results in different manners, the artist developed a world in which technology and the paranormal are interrelated.
Schultek has set these new paintings in a tech-noir world where the online realm is consuming the physical world. This mixing of these two worlds is represented by a circuit board of snaking conduits and pixelated portals placed in what would otherwise be considered normal cityscapes. In Catalyst, opening at Harman Projects in New York, a deluge of digital information spews from a portal taking the shape of a giant sprite from the video game Space Invader. P In this dystopian reality, not too different from our own; information technology has pervaded every corner of human existence causing the border between worlds to break down and releasing bursts of paranormal activity. Through this combining of disparate imagery, the artist makes statements about the digital world's effects on our environment, psychology and perception.
An opening reception will be held Saturday, December 16th, 2023 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.
