Blockhead Portrait Artworks

Nick Gentry's Blockhead portraits delve into the complexities of identity in the digital age, where the boundaries between the physical and virtual selves become increasingly blurred. These works, characterised by their fragmented and pixelated aesthetic, challenge viewers to consider how technology and social media shape our perceptions of self and the ways in which we present ourselves to the world.

Recognisable facial features emerge from a grid-like structure, highlighting the interplay between the tangible and the digital. This fragmentation reflects the multifaceted nature of selfhood in the digital age, where individuals often present curated versions of themselves online, obscuring the complexities of their true identities.

The Blockhead portraits also raise questions about anonymity and surveillance in a technology-driven world. The pixelated faces, partially obscured and deconstructed, suggest a desire to remain unseen, to evade the ever-present gaze of technology. This resonates with the growing concerns about data privacy and the erosion of anonymity in an era of facial recognition and online tracking.

Furthermore, the works explore the performative aspects of online identity, where individuals often adopt curated personas and engage in self-promotion. The fragmented nature of the portraits can be seen as a commentary on the curated and often artificial nature of online self-presentation.

Through their unique visual language and thought-provoking themes, the Blockhead portraits invite viewers to contemplate the evolving nature of identity in the digital age. They challenge us to consider how technology shapes our self-perception, our relationships with others, and our understanding of what it means to be human in a world increasingly mediated by screens and algorithms.