Labor

The exhibition Labor explores pivotal changes in how humans relate to the act of working, examining historical and contemporary forces reshaping our experience of work. Through the the stark realities of labor exploitation and the increasing presence of artificial intelligence, the artworks reflect on the evolving job dynamics in a globalized world. The exhibition highlights the fragility and resilience of human endeavors and raises questions about the future of work in an age of increasing automation. It invites contemplation on how we might reimagine our connections to labor and agency in a rapidly changing landscape.

The durable and cheaply produced fabric of a widely used bag to move is the medium of Joanna Zabielska’s attire, the Design of the anonymous. The dramatic shape, the voluminous silhouette is achieved through the use of panniers, wide hoop skirts.

Inspired by the idealized depictions of flowers and landscapes in 18th-century Jacquard textiles, Olena Newkryta’s Ornament and Crime presents a woven satellite image of the world’s largest cotton belts.

In the video work of Emanuel Gollob, disarming, a robotic limb is trying to learn how to relocate despite not being designed to do so. This process, reminiscent of a dystopian narrative about technological independence, may evoke feelings of compassion or even create an emotional connection as we watch it’s awkward early attempts.