Poltroncina

By Andrea Burchiani

Topic: Digital Traces

Medium: Object

Material: Armchair

Institute: Politecnico di Milano

Year: a.a. 2023-2024

“Poltroncina” is the first and only research I did on Facebook, during my whole user activity. This iconic example fully represents the presence that Facebook had and still has in my life: something which is completely marginal and meaningless regarding my life and my person; a social network that I used for a few years just to scroll some posts without interacting and creating that much. I mean… at least, this is what it seems like. Am I really sure that this perception that I have corresponds to the reality of facts? ls Facebook really secondary on my daily routine? What hidden data lies behind that armchair?

Featured image of the project Poltroncina

Complementary image of the project Poltroncina

Metaphor used:

This message is communicated through the main symbol of this exhibition: obviously the armchair. The concept is then develdped through a physical space; in which the armchair is at the center. Under pillow, it has several rolls of paper with chaotic data spilling out and unrolling on the floor.

Intended Meaning:

We are able to perceive our active usage (posts, comments, likes etc.), but we don't actually see that in the meanwhile the algorithm is creating a digital twin of ourselves, made by billions of datas.

Source:

Facebook activity data over years (from account creation until today), divided into personal information, interactions, connection and a lot more.