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Parsons & Charlesworth, Catalog for the Post-Human—Hed-Tek Study No. 1, 2020. Pencil and paper collage on Arches 140lb watercolor paper; 12 × 15 5/8 in.
This piece is one of a series of collage drawings produced as part of our Catalog for the Post-Human (CftPH) project. CftPH is a multi-part, ongoing project that draws upon research into the future of work and human enhancement to highlight the nature of our post-human condition. The title refers to an organization of the near future that caters to the demands and expectations of contingent workers and their employers in an increasingly technologically-oriented society. This piece is a study for a headset that uses the technology known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
“This Mini-Scene souvenir was picked up during a visit to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park on our road trip to New Mexico in 2018. Made from ceramic, the diorama is ‘activated’ when light is positioned above and shines through the slats of tinted acrylic installed in the upper part of the object. There is an amusing disparity between the gigantic scale of the caverns themselves and the tiny scale of this souvenir, however, the piece mimics the light effect precisely.
Parsons & Charlesworth is an art and design studio run by Tim Parsons and Jessica Charlesworth. They create glimpses into alternate realities, telling stories with objects, and inviting thoughtful questioning of contemporary life. They practice an investigative, research-driven, speculative approach to art and design that often uses installation as a means of engaging viewers in critical topics through the use of storytelling.
Parsons & Charlesworth have exhibited in galleries, museums, institutions, and festivals around the world including: Walker Art Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia (MAAT Lisbon), Science Gallery Dublin, Chicago Cultural Center, Arts Club of Chicago, 2nd Istanbul Design Biennial, Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago), Fernwey Gallery (Chicago), Wanted Design (New York City), Aram Gallery (London).