Autocomplete: Modern Art is Collage

Grounded in extensive research, my diverse artistic practice embraces a playful and unpretentious approach. Employing text-based art, video, and installations, with an emphasis towards text as a medium for its confident and direct communication, devoid of unnecessary embellishments. This deliberate choice seeks to enhance accessibility, especially for individuals who might feel alienated by the intricacies and elitism often associated with Contemporary Art. Building upon previous explorations of the impact of modern telecommunications on language evolution, my work now delves into the obscure, murky corners of the Internet. As a self-proclaimed internet addict, I draw from personal web adventures and extensive research into how others interact with the digital realm. Leveraging tools like spam, autocomplete algorithms, and undercover exploration of niche forums, I navigate the darker themes of loneliness and internet use to playfully probe the concept of "Internet Abuse." This addiction is characterized by cycles of dependency and withdrawal symptoms, manifesting in disruptions to daily routines and a preoccupation with cyberspace as a means to alter mood and escape real-life stress. In recent works, I've shifted focus to produce text-based pieces challenging societal expectations, gender stereotypes, sexism, street harassment, and domestic abuse. My objective is to initiate public discourse—an ongoing dialogue aimed at challenging stereotypes, fostering respectful communication, and creating an empowering environment for everyone.

 Extract written by Francesca Brooks for Jotta, London solo show “Hello Friend”: “Siobhan Barr’s ‘Hello Friend!’ at the WW Gallery is a sharp, and wickedly funny survey of the obscure, murky corners of the internet. The social paranoias of humanity, as collected and regurgitated by Google, are merely a prelude to gangs of mothers with their own catalogue of Mumsnet acronyms, and forums for homemade sex toys. Barr’s interest in technology and the internet have turned her into an undercover investigator – a tech geek and a chardonnay sipping mother are just some of her multiple personae – but above all she is an astute observer of society’s relationship to evolving technologies. If at times she is swept into the all-consuming obsession which constant data streams and live life feeds encourage, she also remains a subversively comic commentator.