Jed Gjerek Creative statement
My research focuses on the transition from mimesis to simulacra and hyperreality, exploring how real-time interactive technologies reshape our perception of reality.
I consider the universe a space where non-life and non-human precede humanity, advocating for a relational ontology that dissolves the boundaries between life and non-life. Through highlighting the active role of non-human entities in shaping human experiences, my work suggests that consciousness and consciousness-like phenomena are dispersed across interconnected networks of actors throughout the environment. This approach challenges conventional notions of reality, embracing a broader, non-anthropocentric view.
My paintings navigate the space between memory, nostalgia, and the hyperreal, blending kitsch aesthetics with deeper reflections on contemporary culture.
Drawing inspiration from mass production, consumerism, and the visual overload of contemporary life, I use bold colors, exaggerated forms, and artificial aesthetic to create a sense of both familiarity and distortion.
Influenced by the concept of hyperreality, my work blurs the boundaries between the artificial and the real, questioning our perceptions of authenticity and value.
By reinterpreting everyday objects and cultural symbols, I invite viewers to reconsider the sentimental, the superficial, and the ways in which consumer culture and technology shape our collective visual language.