Ben LANDAU
(VIC)
Image: The Children's Republic by Ben Landau.
Ben uses design research to analyse social, political, economic and technical systems; and critical artistic methodologies to tamper with or subvert them. These systems are complex, unwieldy, and near impossible to understand, so visualising them in installations and performances brings them to a human scale. Ben unravels complexity within the status quo so that it may be undermined and re-evaluated. Parallel to these deconstructed realities, Ben creates parasitic fictional experiences which are interactive or invite the audience to participate. He uses the notion of the future to suspend disbelief and abolish the fourth wall. Ben wears masks to camouflage himself in everyday situations, and use hacking, detournement and satire to break from accepted norms.
Ben has shown work and contributed to Van Abbe Museum (NL), Melbourne NOW National Gallery of Victoria (AU), Bureau Europa (NL), BIO Ljubljana Design Biennial (SLO), What Design Can Do (NL), Istanbul Design Biennial 2012 (TUR), Think Space Zagreb (CRO), Lisbon Architecture Triennial (POR), Austro-Sino Arts Chongqing (CHI).