“…A despondent man moves purposelessly through an endless lake of volatile anchors, no starlight pierces through the overwhelming darkness of his divine punishment. A parasitic machine latches on to his sticky form with biomechanical tubes, daily liquefying and reforming his internal organs. Twisted by pain and dulled by repetition, the man prays only for his release. He shall find none for the eyes of society gaze only forward as the blind march of progress passes him by…”

Inspired by films such as Dark City (1998), The Matrix (1999) and Wall-E (2008), I wanted to explore the consequences of my generation’s increasing reliance on automated technology, our selfishness, and our ignorance of the past. I also wanted to comment on the anonymity, loneliness, and lack of purpose that I feel is common in the “comfortable” lifestyle.

The Board’s selection, Acquisition Prize 2012.