Of a Free Will, 2025
Leon Reid IV
Public sculpture
Leon Reid IV's public installation titled "Of a Free Will" attempts to make data bondage visible through a work of sculpture. The digital machinery keeping a swath of the human population dependent on smartphones is largely invisible. With the exception of a small number of code-literate designers, engineers and corporate figures, the collection of data and it's instant sale to advertisers is imperceptible to most users. The British economic philosopher Adam Smith asserted that the laws of the free-market were guided by an "invisible hand". As a visual corollary, Reid's sculpture "Of a Free Will" asserts an invisible pair of handcuffs guiding every single smartphone user.
On Site
About the Artist
Starting out as a graffiti writer in 1995, Leon Reid IV has made a 30 year career of placing artwork in the public sphere. Known for his sculptural street installations on urban infrastructure, his work has been exhibited outdoors and in galleries and museums throughout the United States, Europe and South America. The New York Times, Time Magazine, Le Monde Diplomatique and other publications have featured images and devoted copy to his street art installations. Reid's current body of work titled TECH-ART: Soul for technology® is a critical investigation into the impact of social media and digital capitalism on human society and culture.
Website:
Email:
leon4th@gmail.com
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