The Cellphone age - SOLD
Richard Mudariki (b 1985)
The Cellphone age - 2012
Acrylic on canvas
80 x 200 cm (Triptych)
Each canvas signed and dated bottom right
Sold
This triptych comes from an observation of how the mobile telephone (cellphone) has become an integral part of modern-day society. Whilst this technological advancement, which has made communication very easy, is welcomed, it has also had a negative effect on certain aspects of our lives. Use of cellphones has become addictive to some, draining attention and valuable time. Most tragic, however, is the slow erosion of traditional family time and face to face social interaction. Many people (particularly the young) have become so addicted to their mobile devices that in their homes they seldom interact with other family members.
The panels depict scenes in which various individuals are captivated by their mobile devices. Some make calls whilst others are texting (sms) – or are they taking pictures, listening to music, or chatting on WhatsApp or Facebook? The first panel shows a man and a prostitute, each using their cellphone for business. The second panel, inspired by Van Gogh’s painting, ‘The Potato Eaters’, shows a family interacting with their phones rather than with each other. The third panel shows politicians also doing business using their mobile devices.