WTF is a project initiated by Gala Knörr during her artist residency at Cité Internationale
des Arts in Paris at the beginning of the year, and the continuation of her research in her
studio in East London, through which she has been exploring the different ways people
can communicate with each other inspired by her interaction with strangers and friends
strictly through the online spectacle, particularly the app Snapchat.

Event: WTF
Date: 3 September – 6 September 2015
Preview: Thursday 3 September, 6.30-9pm
Venue: Total Refreshment Centre – Unit 2, 2a Foulden Road, N16 7UR London

Online interaction

Knörr’s curiosity was drawn to Snapchat’s ephemeral nature but fooled its users by screen capturing her
favourite moments sent by people, always aware that the app notified each user of each
screen capture. WTF aims to be an investigative project into the psyche of contemporary
society and the ways we relate to each other, how we seek to be constantly liked and find
meaning in fictitious relationships with strangers. The parallel nature of our In Real Life
self, our experiencing life and our remembering life.

“She explores the role of photography in pop culture, and its narrative effect of timebound
and timelessness. Given that our social context has dramatically shifted since the
90’s with the introduction of technology, her practice of producing paintings based on
sourced snaps poses a complicated and interesting conversation around our increasingly
complex and layered social stratosphere.” – Jamie Grace Davis, Visiting Artist at École
Nationale d’Arts de Paris Cergy 2015

Curated by Antoni Ferrer.

About the artist

Gala Knörr (born 1984, Vitoria-Gasteiz) lives and works in London. Recent solo exhibitions
and projects include HIGH WILD AND FREE: AN INTERNET STORY, Atelier 8123, Cité
Internationale Des Arts, Paris (2015); NO FORM AND ALL SUBSTANCE, La Galerie Cité
Internationale des Arts, Paris (2015); FIVE FLOORS EIGHTEEN ARTISTS curated by Leo
Babsky, Century Private Members Club, London (2015); and HACKNEY BABY presented
at the SPAIN Now! Open Studios Weekend, Cell Studios, London (2014).

Supported by
The Total Refreshment Centre, a creative hub with an all analogue recording studio, a rehearsal space, a live music venue and a photographic studio created in 2012 in an old Stoke Newington Edwardian warehouse with a rich history.

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