Zach Blas
Desktop Tour

Desktop Tours is a series that invites artists from arebyte Gallery’s yearly programme to talk through their computer or laptop desktop, including key folders, bookmarks, and software they use in their work.

The artists talk about the work produced for their exhibition at arebyte as well as new content they are working on, their processes, past experimentations, and a look into their virtual mind.

In this Desktop Tour, Zach Blas invites us into his computer to talk through his workflow and look at early material from the installation. From preparing a comprehensive installation script to creating a 3D model of the exhibiting space, Zach shares his creative process and emphasises the significance of collaborations throughout the project.⁠

Zach Blas’ exhibition CULTUS is open at arebyte until 17 February 2024: more info HERE.

Facilitated and edited by Marc Blazel.

Marc Blazel is a multidisciplinary artist specialising in moving image, installation, live-streaming and web theory.

Zach Blas (b. Point Pleasant, WV, US) is an artist, filmmaker, and writer whose practice spans moving image, computation, theory, performance, and science fiction. Recent artworks have addressed AI religiosity, the crystal balls of Silicon Valley, BDSM and surveillance, and smart drug psychedelia. Blas has exhibited, lectured, and held screenings at venues internationally, including the 12th Berlin Biennale, Walker Art Center, Tate Modern, British Art Show 9, 12th Gwangju Biennale, de Young Museum, the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, ICA London, Van Abbemuseum, e-flux, ZKM Center for Art and Media, and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. His practice has been supported by the Arts Council England, Edith-Russ-Haus für Medienkunst, a US Creative Capital award in Emerging Fields, the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. His work is in the collections of Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, and Whitney Museum of American Art. Blas’s practice has been written about and featured in Artforum, Frieze, ArtReview, BBC, The Guardian, and The New York Times. His 2021 artist monograph Unknown Ideals is published by Sternberg Press. Blas is an Assistant Professor of Visual Studies in the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto.

This video was made in conjunction with the exhibition CULTUS by Zach Blas.

The exhibition runs 11 October 2023 – 17 February 2024
Part of arebyte Gallery’s 2023/24 programme The Body, The Mind, The Soul