The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London is currently hosting 'Genuine Fake Premium Economy,' an exhibition showcasing the work of American artists Jenna Bliss, Buck Ellison, and Jasmine Gregory. Born in the mid-1980s, these artists came of age during a period of significant economic upheaval, notably the 2008 financial crash, which profoundly shaped their formative years and artistic perspectives. The exhibition is described as a powerful expression of the frustrations and resentments felt by a generation that entered adulthood amidst a global financial downturn.
The artists' collective work delves into the psychological and societal impacts of living through such a turbulent economic period. Their pieces reflect a critical stance on the financial systems and societal structures they perceive as having failed their generation. This sentiment of disillusionment and anger is a central theme, exploring how the promise of economic stability that preceded their adulthood quickly evaporated, leaving a legacy of precarity and struggle for many.
The exhibition's title, 'Genuine Fake Premium Economy,' itself hints at the perceived contradictions and superficiality within modern economic and social stratifications. It suggests a critique of systems that offer an illusion of upward mobility or comfort while underlying inequalities persist. The artists' approach is characterised by a raw and unvarnished examination of these issues, providing a voice to the anxieties of a generation often labelled as 'millennials.'
Through their art, Bliss, Ellison, and Gregory articulate a collective experience of navigating a post-crash world, where traditional pathways to prosperity have been disrupted. Their work at the ICA serves as a commentary on the enduring legacy of the 2008 crisis, not just in economic terms, but also in the shaping of a generation's worldview and its relationship with established institutions.