Exhibition "F(R)ICTION: Art & Games"

In recent years, video games—and references to them—have taken on an increasingly prominent role in contemporary art, appearing in exhibitions by established curators at leading institutions. This proliferation of exhibitions attests to the fact that video games have become an undeniable cultural force. A new generation of artists now uses games and video games not only as a natural means of expression, but as a way to articulate their relationship to the past, contemporary culture, and society. 

However, there is a parallel history rooted in communities of experimental game creation that have worked radically with the form since the 1980s. These creators have been shaping the medium’s form, aesthetics, and possibilities, expanding and stretching games as a medium. F(R)ICTION juxtaposes these trajectories to see what this reveals in terms of priorities and aesthetics. 

The exhibition also reflects the breadth of expressions and perspectives that have shaped experimental game-making, bringing together creators from different generations, backgrounds, and parts of the world. 

F(R)ICTION brings together two ideas: the encounter and the possibility of the imaginary. Friction begins with difference, when different textures meet. Friction slows things down but it is also what makes movement possible. As Anna Tsing reminds us “A wheel turns because of its encounter with the surface of the road; spinning in the air it goes nowhere.” F(R)ICTION references friction not as resistance, but as a condition for movement and change.

‍

Curators: Lynn Hughes & Ida Toft

‍

Hours

Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 9 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm
Last entry 1 hour before closing

‍

Admission

General admission: $25
Student and 65+ rate: $18
Ages 11-16: $12
Free for children 11 and under
Free return visit upon presentation of a ticket and subject to on-site availability.

‍

Group visit

For groups of 10 or more, 15% discount.
Make a group reservation →

‍