Elena Knox
Born in Australia, 1975. Lives and works in Tokyo.
Elena Knox’s art cuts through digital media, performance, sculpture, sound, music and installation. Intrigued by the motivation behind narcissistic creations, she amplifies human impulses to totemism, idolatry, and fetishism — through these, she claims, we attempt to solve our ultimate loneliness in the galaxy. Some of Knox’s recent works use frontier Japanese robots to audition roles of identity and belief in techno-science futures. Others explore new visions of gender, persona, and presence in dreamlike, stripped-back social situations.
Knox’s artworks are in increasing demand internationally. She created solo shows for Tokyo Arts and Space (2021-22), Koganecho Bazaar, Yokohama (2019); Gallery Hashimoto, Tokyo (2018); and The Big Anxiety, Sydney (2017). Recent participations include NTT InterCommunication Center [ICC], Tokyo (2022); Ningen Gallery, Tokyo (2022); Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2022, Nigata (2022); Athens Digital Arts Festival, Athens (2021); Art Machines 2, Hong Kong (2021); Yokohama Triennale, Kanagawa (2020); Bangkok Art Biennale (2020); Echoes of Monologues at ANOMALY, Tokyo (2020); Mori Art Museum, Tokyo (2019-20); Chongqing Contemporary Art Museum (2019-20); National Museum of China (2019); Taipei Expo Park (2019); Asia Culture Center, Gwangju (2019); Hong Kong City Hall (2018-19); Beijing Media Art Biennale (2018-19); and Art Sonje Center for Contemporary Art, Seoul (2017). Artist residencies include Australia House (Echigo-Tsumari Art Field, Japan, 2019); and K11 Art Foundation (Wuhan, 2016). Knox is a researcher at Waseda University, Tokyo and holds a PhD Media Art from UNSW Australia Art & Design. She also performs solo and with others as a musician, spanning sound improvisation, electronic pop, and noise.
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