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Judith Hopf

Phone User 4 (Outdoor)

Information about the artwork

  • Year2021/2022
  • MaterialFiber concrete, stainless steel
  • Dimensions178 x 44 x 52 cm
  • On viewCurrently not exhibited

for kids (and anyone else who is curious!)

Have you ever been reminded by your parents or teachers to sit up straight? Maybe your back is sometimes a bit humped due to endless sessions on your console? Do you also sometimes find it difficult to switch back to the here and now? This seems to be the case with the figures of German artist Judith Hopf: The way they lean casually against the wall, completely fused with their laptop, which they hold in their hand or balance on their knee—we know these guys. You see them at bus stops, on the subway, in the office, in a café: people who are so engrossed in their devices that they don’t notice what’s going on around them. Typical posture: the bent neck, also known as “tech neck.” Very painful. If you want to reach these people, you’re going to have to do it electronically.

 

In 2018, artist Judith Hopf dedicated the “Laptop Men” series to this phenomenon. Two are standing around here in our exhibition. The sculptures made of steel plate are highly simplified, three-dimensional stick figures, not man nor woman and yet unmistakable. The typical “laptop people” no longer sit upright at their desk in the office and call it a day at 5 pm. They can work anytime, anywhere—and often they have to, something Judith Hopf also draws attention to. The boundaries between work and leisure are blurring, partly because we only need this one device for both. Of course we know how strongly technical devices influence our lives, our learning, our playing, our working, our communication, our attitude. But do we care about the dangers?

This way to the Factory

Further artworks

Artwork: "Untitled (Roses)" from Cy Twombly
Cy Twombly Untitled (Roses), 2008 yes Upper floor
Artwork: "Lepanto XI" from Cy Twombly
Cy Twombly Lepanto XI, 2001 yes Upper floor
Artwork: "Untitled" from Jacqueline Humphries
Jacqueline Humphries Untitled, 2008 yes Ground floor
Artwork: "Warhol Black Marilyn" from Sturtevant
Sturtevant Warhol Black Marilyn, 2004 yes Ground floor
Artwork: "Party Room" from Pope.L
Pope.L Party Room, 2001 yes Ground floor