Black Mirror (2024)

Dimensions: 52 x 52 x 192 cm

Artist: Thijs Linssen

Medium: Screen printed, reflective newspapers in a newspaper display. "Black Mirror" comprises screen-printed newspapers with reflective surfaces, rendering all text and images entirely black. Despite this, the reflective quality of the newspapers allows for the viewer to perceive faint glimpses of the surrounding world. The artwork serves as a response to phenomena such as fake news, censorship, the distressing nature of contemporary news, propaganda, recent scandals such as the 'toeslagen affaire' or the Post Office scandal. It also addresses the underpaid freelance journalists.

Central to the concept is the notion that a newspaper functions not only as a reflection of societal issues but also as a mirror reflecting individual perspectives. The choice of newspaper one engages with speaks volumes about their identity. The project encompasses three distinct components, with the newspaper stand depicted in the accompanying image representing the second part. The first component comprises a photograph capturing an individual engrossed in reading the "Black Mirror" newspaper, while the third component entails a complete kiosk filled with reflective newspapers and
media similarly blackened out. The first en third part are still in the production phase.