Ed Fornieles

In his practice, Ed Fornieles investigates the impact the virtual world has on physical reality, and vice versa. By blurring the distinctions between the online and the offline, his installations, performances and video works mirror social networks and often use them as artistic tools. His practice involves creating elaborate social scenarios which depict the stark difference between people’s real-life personalities and their online personae. For instance, his 2011 project titled Dorm Daze involved creating characters, inspired by American college students, on Facebook which then interacted with each other for three months, thereby forming connections and subjective experiences. The artist’s live performances similarly orchestrate social settings, often placed within the young person’s coming of age context, to which the audience is invited to actively participate and role-play. By drawing on social media interactions and placing them into the real world, Fornieles creates uncanny observations on people, relationships and the condition of the twenty-first century. ...

Chisenhale Gallery is dedicated to placing artists at the core of its mission. They have supported the realisation of major works by an international array of artists, often solidifying careers through timely solo commissions, notably including Lubaina Himid, Wolfgang Tillmans, Cornelia Parker, Faisal Abdu’Allah, Hito Steyerl, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Yu Ji, Abbas Akhavan, Rachel Jones and Rory Pilgrim. Chisenhale Gallery was founded by artists. The same experimental vision and spirit of possibility that transformed an empty veneer factory and brewery warehouse into an art gallery continues to guide their work today. They commission and produce contemporary art, publish books and online material, and actively engage in social projects. ...