Art Mimics Digital Glitches: A New Exhibition

Paul Lemmon's exhibition, "Through the Screen," opens at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry from February 4th to February 15th. This striking display features more than 40 oil paintings that emulate the visual glitches seen in digital media.

Lemmon, originally from Birmingham, explained that his work "interrogates" the complex connections people have with the digital sphere. The initial part of the exhibition showcases ten pieces created from corrupted YouTube footage, depicting individuals interacting with the camera.

These physical paintings, unlike their digital inspirations, do not require power, updates, or logins. Lemmon views the glitch effect as a metaphor for the personas adopted on social media, suggesting a fragmentation of personality. His work also incorporates abstract animations derived from the corrupted videos used in his painting process.

Some paintings fragment anonymous figures, while others feature cultural icons from the pre-internet era, including Richard Nixon, Madonna, Debbie Harry, and David Bowie. Lemmon employs technology in unconventional ways, disrupting its intended processes to create art. He describes his art as retrieving the digital and immaterial from the screen, rendering it real and tangible through oil paint, urging viewers to prioritize real life.