Encoded Consciousness: Art in the Age of the Tech

We are delighted to announce a solo exhibition by Paul Onditi, presenting his latest body of work in Venice this May. Born in Kenya in 1980, Onditi studied at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Offenbach am Main, Germany, before returning to Nairobi in 2010, where he continues to live and work. A leading voice in contemporary African art, Onditi represented Kenya at the Biennale Arte 2017 and is widely recognized for his innovative techniques and thought-provoking imagery.

Encoded Consciousness: Art in the Age of Tech explores the evolution of human thought in the digital era, reflecting on how technology reshapes our perception, memory, and identity. In this latest series, QR codes are intricately woven into the compositions, forming a visual language that mirrors the coded nature of contemporary existence. These works blur the boundaries between the organic and the digital, inviting viewers to consider the profound shifts in consciousness brought about by the technological revolution.

Executed on digital polyester inkjet plates, Onditi’s mixed-media technique incorporates filmstrips, transferred images, pigments, caustic acid, and thin layers of oil paint, creating richly textured compositions. At the heart of his work is a solitary, anonymous figure, adrift in dynamic, abstract backdrops—spaces that echo themes of urban chaos, environmental crisis, and digital fragmentation.

As Venice hosts the Biennale Architettura 2025, themed "Intelligens: Natural and Artificial", Onditi’s work resonates deeply with the dialogue on the interplay between human cognition and artificial intelligence, reflecting on how digital systems mediate our understanding of space, culture, and reality. His exploration of mind, memory, and digital imprints serves as an artistic parallel to architecture’s evolving relationship with technology, sustainability, and human adaptation.

Join us in Venice this May to experience Encoded Consciousness: Art in the Age of Tech—a compelling reflection on the intersection of art, technology, and human evolution.