First 5 bidders on the Mallow.art auction for the HERSOID DRiP ULTIMATE will receive this pNFT

Developed as a standalone project, Lounge Deaths (working title) explores themes familiar to Hersoid‘s previous work: Authority, truth, power and our impotence in challenging these abuses in modern society.

These pieces will be available soon in the print shop, and launching as unique NFTs on the Solana blockchain.

Text outlining the themes of a new body of paintings currently in production…

Truth, Authority and Power

How our reality is shaped by policies, strategies and ideas generated for the narrow benefit of the moneyed elites who control public opinion through mainstream media

In an era defined by the rapid dissemination of information and the ubiquitous influence of mass media, the concept of truth, has become increasingly subjugated to a non definitive and subjective phenomenon. Beneath the surface of public discourse lies a complex interplay of policies, strategies, and ideas that not only shape our perceptions and social norms but also dictate the very realities we inhabit.

**The Construction of Truth**

Truth, once thought to be an absolute and immutable concept, has evolved into a fluid entity in today’s world. In the realm of media and public discourse, truth is often constructed rather than discovered. Those in positions of authority, backed by powerful economic interests, dictate what is deemed factual and worthy of public attention. This control extends beyond mere censorship; it involves the strategic promotion of narratives that align with the agendas of certain elites and oligarchies.

This small cabal of influence is the moneyed elites who wield immense power through control of the media, politics and scientific research, manipulating narratives to serve their own interests. Truth, science and accepted wisdom have become a malleable commodity in the digital age. Media conglomerates, driven by profit motives, selectively amplify stories that align with their agendas while downplaying or omitting those that challenge their dominance.

In this constructed reality, the cabal plays a pivotal role as both gatekeeper and storyteller. Through selective reporting, framing, and agenda-setting, individuals or small elitist groups shape public perception and influence collective understanding. Issues that challenge the status quo or threaten the interests of the powerful are marginalized or altogether ignored, while those that serve to reinforce existing power structures are amplified and embellished.

Moreover, the proliferation of social media platforms has exacerbated this phenomenon. These platforms, driven by algorithms designed to maximize user engagement, thrive on polarizing content that generates clicks and views. This attention-driven business model incentivizes the dissemination of sensationalized information and ideological echo chambers, further fragmenting public discourse and eroding trust in traditional sources of authority.

**Authority and its Discontents**

Authority, traditionally vested in institutions meant to serve the public good, has increasingly been co-opted by economic elites. Political leaders, corporate entities, and influential individuals wield authority not only through formal channels but also through the manipulation of public opinion. By leveraging their economic clout to influence policy-making and media coverage, these elites perpetuate a cycle of power consolidation that marginalizes dissenting voices and perpetuates inequality.

Moreover, the erosion of trust in traditional sources of authority has led to the proliferation of alternative narratives and conspiracy theories. In an environment where skepticism reigns supreme, discerning truth from falsehood becomes a daunting task for the average citizen. This is exacerbated by unchecked spread of misinformation, amplified by social media algorithms that prioritize virality over accuracy.

Furthermore, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal role in perpetuating this cycle. AI-driven algorithms curate personalized content feeds based on user preferences and behaviors, reinforcing existing biases and limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints. This phenomenon, known as the “filter bubble,” contributes to the polarization of opinions and the erosion of shared realities, making it increasingly difficult to discern authentic truth from manipulated narratives, and to formulate any cohesive movement to challenge the controlling elites.

**The Power of the Moneyed Elites**

Through their control of corporate entities, financial institutions and media conglomerates, and with the ammunition of ideas and policies from sympathetic or politically aligned think-tanks, these elites dictate the terms of public discourse and shape societal norms to align with their interests. Policies crafted under the guise of promoting economic growth and social stability often serve to consolidate wealth and power among the elite, exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities and undermining democratic principles.

The concentration of media ownership in the hands of a few conglomerates further amplifies this imbalance of power. These entities not only dictate the agenda but also set the parameters of acceptable discourse, sidelining critical issues such as climate change, social justice, and economic inequality in favor of sensationalized content and trivial distractions.

Early morning walks, fierce vegetation growth and monkeys here in Jungle City. Another print from the HERSOID.com Kuala Lumpur studio is printed, packed and delivered complete with hand finishing embossing and signing.

Happily announcing the safe delivery of another museum grade archival quality print from Sunny Kuala Lumpur all the way to USA in less than four days.

Very happy to celebrate another happy customer, and thanks to my dedicated team of printers and logistics, and we managed to turn around the order in less than 24 hours.

watch the making of video here

Spirits, Ghosts and Mortals is the latest series of unique artworks and editions from Hersoid. The inpsiration for the collection was an old archive found on the MIT website, that the artist stumbled upon while researching another project. He found a photograph of a Chinese dignitary, taken in the late 19th century by renowned photographer and explorer John Thompson.

John Thomson FRGS (14 June 1837 – 29 September 1921) was a pioneering Scottish photographer, geographer, and traveller. He was one of the first photographers to travel to the Far East, documenting the people, landscapes and artefacts of eastern cultures. He had traveled through much of Malaya, Siam and India before eventually settling in Hong Kong in 1868. From there he explored extensively in China, one of the first westerners to do so.

Having lived in Shanghai from 2007 to 2010, Hersoid has long held a fascination with Chinese people and culture, in particular the role of the Authoritarian regime who have presided over the meteoric commercialisation and growth of China in recent years. But while there remains a veneer of western economic freedom for the population, there is an increasing tightening of control, which sits at odds with much western principles of freedom and democracy. In particular Hersoid is interested in the pervasive use of surveillance technology such as facial recognition, and its role in monitoring the population to provide data for the Social Credit system that has been rolled out in recent years.

This extensive surveillance network encompasses public spaces, streets, transportation hubs, and even residential areas. This network includes millions of cameras equipped with advanced technologies like facial recognition, AI, and big data analytics.

The Chinese government justifies the use of these technologies as crucial for maintaining public safety and controlling crime rates. Facial recognition systems are utilized in identifying and tracking individuals in crowded places, assisting law enforcement in managing public order, and monitoring criminal activities.

China’s Social Credit System, where facial recognition technology plays a role in monitoring and assessing citizen behavior, is used to assign social credit scores based on various factors like financial responsibility, social behavior, and adherence to government policies. These scores can impact individuals’ access to certain privileges or services. It can mean the difference between getting a loan or being refused, being given a job or being allowed to travel within or beyond China’s borders.

In this series, Hersoid has recontextualised the characters from John Thompson’s remarkable travels, with a view to commenting on the enormous changes that the country has gone through in recent decades, and how the spirits of these historical figures hang over a new population living in totally different conditions.

Most artworks have been minted as unique 1/1 NFTs on the ethereum blockchain via Foundation and one is also available as a limited edition release on Solana via Exchange.art