Artist Explores Internet's Dark Side Live

Experimental artist Mark Haslam is set to unveil FAKE, a performance-exhibition at Sydney's Carriageworks as part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Haslam will sit inside a scrim-mesh box, utilizing custom systems to scrape and project content from the internet's most obscure corners, including social media and international state media, onto the warehouse walls.

Audience members play an active role by submitting thoughts that influence the live performance. Haslam, surrounded by screens and audio, interacts with the digital feed and the audience. An AI voice and a performer in a yeti costume also contribute to the evolving artistic experience, symbolizing the shedding of personas.

The show, scheduled for August 20-30, 2026, is described as an "unfiltered open algorithm" that can display a wide range of online material, excluding child exploitation. Trigger warnings will be provided for potentially offensive content, with a safe room offering gentler viewing options like panda videos.

Festival director Danielle Harvey noted this year's event is the largest since its 2009 inception, featuring diverse artists and ideas. FAKE specifically aims to showcase the full spectrum of human expression online, from its most disturbing aspects to its most touching, exploring how humans connect with and through technology.