“Shower” is an installation at the Russian Pavilion for Venice Benniale. These tiled monitors simultaneously broadcast 1000 TV channels from around the world, demonstrates the absolute dominance of mass media, a medium that traps people in an “information cell.” Two switches in the shower change the on-screen content, allowing the viewer to choose breaking news, sports, commercials, pornography, nature programmes and so on. However, the shower cannot be turned off. Created by Alexander Pomomarev and Arseny Mescheryakov.
Now this is a brilliant spectacle created out of hyperrealism. Makes me wonder if a person inside there is still capable of focusing on a certain monitor, amidst the bombardment of other unwanted moving images and possibly, sounds. In that case, an individual can break out of hyperreality when he realizes he or she can’t make a choice. Just goes to show the importance of an illusion of meaningless choice in media consumerism.
