Chris Eckert: Overload  

Overload seeks to create an introspective journey through technological landscapes, hand-made by Southern California artist Chris Eckert. This exhibition delves into the interplay between humanity and the omnipresent forces of modern technology, where boundaries blur and identities meld in the face of staggering digital influence.  

In Overload, Eckert explores themes of automation, surveillance, and the fragility of privacy in a hyper-connected world. His hand-crafted installations – mechanically identical devices, each unit paradoxically imbued with a unique personality – challenge us to contemplate the  

implications of our increasingly interconnected lives. Each of the eight works on display embodies a fusion of mechanical precision and human emotion, thus illustrating the enigmatic nature of our technological age.  

Eckert’s distinct combination of precision machining, custom electronics, and fastidious paint results in installations of vintage equipment that never actually existed. The sensory, diverting, and confronting nature of these works speaks to the now overwhelming technological world we have created and live within. Juxtaposing human elements with industrial machinery, Eckert encourages viewers to reflect on the ways in which technology increasingly shapes our understanding of self and community.  

Chris Eckert received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Santa Clara University, and his Master of Fine Arts from San Jose State University.