Christelle Oyiri Turns Up the Volume with ‘Perpetual Remix’

Summary
French artist Christelle Oyiri presents In a perpetual remix where is my song?, the debut work of Tate’s Inaugural Commission.
On view through August 28, the multimedia installation explores how digital and material worlds collide in the quest for the ideal form

Beneath the low-hanging ceilings at Tate’s Tanks, a harmonious blend of flesh and machinery is presented in sculptural form. The esteemed London institution chose French artist, DJ, and producer Christelle Oyiri for their first Infinities Commission, and her creation left nothing less than an astonishing impression.

Explores the influence of digital art on shaping identities, questioning physical form in an era dominated by editing tools, and highlighting intriguing similarities between mixing songs (DJing), cosmetic enhancements, and personal branding online. In this context, it asks where one’s unique identity resides amidst constant reinterpretations.

On top of platform-like structures, statues crafted by Oyiri in bronze depicting women are placed. These figures seem to be suspended in the process of transformation, and as the spotlights shift from one statue to another, an accompanying audio track morphs from a heightened perspective. Behind them, a blend of video footage captured on film and gathered imagery is displayed, oscillating between temporary internet content and personal mementos. This creates a mesmerizing cycle of aesthetic appeal and performance.

In a world where society is heavily interconnected and physical appearances are often enhanced digitally, the artist ponders how the virtual and real blend in the pursuit of an ideal physique. The artist also questions how beauty standards, as shaped by aesthetic practices, affect our understanding of reality and what we yearn for.

Currently being displayed until August 28th, “In a perpetual remix: where is my tune?” signifies the first creation for Infinities Commission, an annual project that seeks to showcase artists who challenge the confines between various artistic realms. This year’s committee, presided over by Chief Curator Catherine Wood, also includes Brian Eno, Ouilimata Gueye, Anne Imhof, Andrea Lissoni, and Legacy Russell.

Tate Modern
Bankside,
London SE1 9TG,
United Kingdom

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