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Mine

Petzel Gallery is pleased to announce Mine, a new exhibition by Simon Denny opening Thursday, March 18, 2021 at the gallery’s Chelsea location. Mine is the culmination of a multi-year project exploring themes of technology, labor, and our relationship with the earth. Denny has been developing this body of work since 2016 with major exhibitions in 2019 at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Tasmania (Australia) and 2020 at K21 – Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf (Germany). This will be Denny’s fourth solo exhibition with Petzel.

Focused on the interconnections between data mining, mineral mining, and the mechanization of labor, Mine brings together a collection of recent works including several large cardboard sculptures imitating giant automated mining machines; a series of wall-mounted paper reliefs and printed vitrines; and a new Augmented Reality sculpture based on a 2019 patent drawing filed by Amazon.com for a delivery worker replacement drone. Denny’s artwork raises questions about the effects of further automation on the limited jobs still left in increasingly mechanized sectors such as mining, service, and logistics. What happens as the labor force shrinks in these traditional industries? How will individuals and worker communities dialogue with those in power in the future? Where will the leverage they once brought now come from?

Amazon’s drone design contains a hot air balloon, recalling the speculative balloon-based flying machine epoch of defining technological developments such as hot air balloons, air ships, or Zeppelins, that have become symbols of both achievement and caution in centuries past. Denny's new sculpture projects an animated AR model of a revolving, rocky, mineral-rich, planet Earth onto the drone’s balloon bulge. This vision of Earth-as-resource is borrowed from the advertising materials of one of Amazon’s most prominent data services clients: the multinational mining group Rio Tinto. Spinning inside the body of the Zeppelin drone, the “Earth-rock” transforms Amazon's worker-replacement model into a raw terrestrial globe, without oceans or other representations of life.

Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire
Simon Denny, Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

Simon Denny

Amazon delivery drone patent drawing as virtual Rio Tinto mineral globe

(US 10,246,186 Bl: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH INFLATABLE MEMBRANE, 2019)

2021

Powder coated aluminum, steel, fiberglass, resin, paint, iOS Augmented Reality interface

70.9 x 66.9 x 59 inches

180 x 170 x 150 cm

 

Click to view video of AR experience

Inquire

Embedded in the exhibition is Extractor, a playable board game that also functions as a take-home catalogue. Players collect data in the form of tokens, which they must stack on plastic-molded racks and place in cloud services to monetize what they have mined and thus win the game. The hybrid sculptures-cum-display units presenting the boxed games mirror the dynamics of the monopolistic platform businesses that control much of our internet infrastructure.

Denny’s Mine reflects not only upon the near future, but also on the conditions of the present—unearthing real designs for machines that confront us with our own sublime and troubling counterparts. The work continues an artistic tradition of interpreting technological production as keys to understanding our environment and the forces that impact it.

Simon Denny, Transmin semi-autonomous rock breaking boomer HD-100 RockLogic Extractor pop display

Simon Denny

Transmin semi-autonomous rock breaking boomer HD-100 RockLogic Extractor pop display

2019

UV print on honeycomb cardboard, shrink-wrapped Extractor board games

36.2 x 137 x 172.4 inches

92 x 348 x 438 cm

Inquire
Simon Denny, Transmin semi-autonomous rock breaking boomer HD-100 RockLogic promotion screen video token

Simon Denny

Transmin semi-autonomous rock breaking boomer HD-100 RockLogic promotion screen video token

2019

Aluminum, UV print on Plexiglas, fluorescent light tubes in original cardboard packaging

26.8 x 47.2 x 3.9 inches

68 x 120 x 10 cm

 

Click to view video linked to QR code

Inquire
Simon Denny, Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Transmin Semi-autonomous rock breaking boomer

Simon Denny

Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Transmin Semi-autonomous rock breaking boomer

2020

Watercolor courtroom sketch on paper by Brisbane supreme court artist Sharon Gordon

16 x 38 x 2 inches

40.6 x 96.5 x 5.1 cm

Inquire
Simon Denny, Airobotics Optimus Autonomous drone and docking station Extractor pop display

Simon Denny

Airobotics Optimus Autonomous drone and docking station Extractor pop display

2019

UV print on honeycomb cardboard, Aluminum poles, Extractor cardboard boxes

136.2 x 102 x 36.2 inches

346 x 259 x 92 cm

Inquire
Simon Denny, Airobotics Optimus Autonomous drone and docking station promotion screen video token

Simon Denny

Airobotics Optimus Autonomous drone and docking station promotion screen video token

2019

Aluminum, UV print on plexiglas, fluorescent light tubes in original cardboard packaging

26.8 x 47.2 x 3.9 inches

68 x 120 x 10 cm

 

Click to view video linked to QR code

Inquire
Simon Denny, Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Airobotics Autonomous drone and docking station

Simon Denny

Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Airobotics Autonomous drone and docking station

2020

Watercolor courtroom sketch on paper by Brisbane supreme court artist Sharon Gordon

16 x 38 x 2 inches

40.6 x 96.5 x 5.1 cm

Inquire
Simon Denny, Caterpillar Inc. semi-autonomous longwall coal mining roof support system cardboard display

Simon Denny

Caterpillar Inc. semi-autonomous longwall coal mining roof support system cardboard display

2019

UV print on honeycomb cardboard, Aluminum poles, Extractor cardboard boxes

126 x 35.4 x 78.7 inches

320 x 90 x 200 cm

Inquire
Simon Denny, Caterpillar Inc. semi-autonomous longwall coal mining roof support system promotion screen video token

Simon Denny

Caterpillar Inc. semi-autonomous longwall coal mining roof support system promotion screen video token

2019

Aluminum, UV print on Plexiglas, fluorescent light tubes in original cardboard packaging

26.8 x 47.2 x 3.9 inches

68 x 120 x 10 cm

 

Click to view video linked to QR code

Inquire
Simon Denny, Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Caterpillar Semi-autonomous longwall coal mining roof support system

Simon Denny

Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Caterpillar Semi-autonomous longwall coal mining roof support system

2020

Watercolor courtroom sketch on paper by Brisbane supreme court artist Sharon Gordon

16 x 38 x 2 inches

40.6 x 96.5 x 5.1 cm

Inquire
Simon Denny, Joy Global semi-autonomous longwall coal mining 7LS8 shearer cardboard display

Simon Denny

Joy Global semi-autonomous longwall coal mining 7LS8 shearer cardboard display

2019

Aluminium booth frame construction, UV print on honeycomb cardboard, stainless steel cable, threaded rods and bolts, Aluminium poles, wood

60.6 x 234.3 x 136.6 inches

154 x 595 x 347 cm

Inquire
Simon Denny, Joy Global semi-autonomous longwall coal mining 7LS8 shearer promotion screen video token

Simon Denny

Joy Global semi-autonomous longwall coal mining 7LS8 shearer promotion screen video token

2019

Aluminum, UV print on Plexiglas, fluorescent light tubes in original cardboard packaging

26.8 x 47.2 x 3.9 inches

68 x 120 x 10 cm

 

Click to view video linked to QR code

Inquire
Simon Denny, Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Joy Global (Komatsu) Semi-autonomous longwall coal mining shearer

Simon Denny

Speculative accountability trial courtroom sketch: Brisbane supreme court, Joy Global (Komatsu) Semi-autonomous longwall coal mining shearer

2020

Watercolor courtroom sketch on paper by Brisbane supreme court artist Sharon Gordon

16 x 38 x 2 inches

40.6 x 96.5 x 5.1 cm

Inquire

Slide-2-(OLD)

Simon Denny, Extractor Board Game XL Display Prototype

Simon Denny

Extractor Board Game XL Display Prototype

2019

Aluminum booth frame construction, UV print on honeycomb cardboard, corrugated cardboard, Plexiglas, Bio-Polyester

97.2 x 97.6 x 47.2 inches

247 x 248 x 120 cm

Simon Denny's NFT Mine Offsets recast each minted NFT as an automated mining unit—a crypto miner—using second-hand Ethereum “mining” computers purchased by the artist from ebay.com, where these machines currently fetch anywhere between $3,000–$20,000. Denny has worked with a gaming illustrator to produce detailed 3d portraits of these miners to create new digital artworks. Following their images’ release as NFTs, Denny will retire the mining computers represented from the Ethereum network altogether. Instead of the hardware using the energy typically required to host the intangible collectibles of the NFT wave, the processing power from these machines’ GPUs (Graphical Processing Units) will be donated to environmental research via climateprediction.net, a not-for-profit climate modeling project overseen by scientists at the University of Oxford, using volunteer computing to study and predict climate change.

Simon Denny, NFT Mine Offset: Ethereum Kryptowährung Mining-Rig 45 MH/s

2021, NFT, 23 seconds, Unique

Click to view NFT