Various Small Fires is pleased to present Liz Magic Laser’s third solo show with the gallery, People Per Hour. The exhibition marks the U.S. debut of Laser’s most recent institutional works, Handle / Poignée (2018), commissioned by Centre Pompidou for MOVE Festival, Paris and In Real Life (2019), commissioned by FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology), Liverpool, UK. Both of Laser’s recent projects examine the techno-utopian logic of the scientifically managed self. The artist hijacks the contemporary drive to maximize efficiency, examining the sociality that hyper-productivity forges.
In Real Life is an immersive reality show installation that follows the lives of five gig-workers from around the world who rely on work they find through online platforms such as PeoplePerHour, Upwork and Fiverr. From a customer service voiceover artist in Hong Kong to a whiteboard animator in Nigeria, each episode follows a freelancer’s journey as they take part in a “30 Day Biohack Challenge” intended to optimize their quality of life and work. Filming via webcams and mobile phones, these reality stars document their struggles as they undergo a transformational development program using wellness tracking apps and tech devices. Each was advised by a tech savvy life coach, Louise Papadopoullos, who trained at the Bulletproof Human Potential Institute, as well as a psychic tarot reader, Count Marco, who offers his services on Fiverr and PsychicMix.com. The cast members were also hired as the creative crew, producing the five episodes of the show in collaboration with Laser and journalist Laura Geisswiller. A new score for this iteration of In Real Life was developed with the musician Gobby and will also exist as a sound installation in the gallery’s exterior sound wall.
