The Digital Mirror showcases 20-years of ground-breaking photography from Wendy McMurdo. Using digital photography and inspired by traditional games and online gaming, McMurdo explores the influence of the online world on creativity and imagination particularly in children.
Her photos show children variously in drama groups, at computers, dressed up as robots and viewing museum exhibitions. These photos are shown alongside some of McMurdo's inspirations, including a doll's house and sculptures by the Scottish sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi. This presents online gaming as a continuum of traditional imaginative play, while at the same time allowing the viewer to appreciate the specific value of older forms of imaginative play.
With the digital landscape changing faster than ever before, this is a very timely exhibition and well worth visiting.
Wendy McMurdo: The Digital Mirror showing at The National Portrait Gallery until Sunday 25 October.
Free entry.
2 comments:
This exhibition actually made me think about how quickly the way children play has changed. I like the idea of putting computers, online gaming and digital photography beside things like a doll’s house and Paolozzi’s sculptures because it shows that imagination has not disappeared, it has just found new places to live. I remember how much easier it was to get completely lost in simple games and make-believe when I was younger, so I find it interesting to think about what children today will remember from growing up surrounded by screens.
Hi Melody, your comment pretty much sums up what's most interesting about this exhibition, thanks
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