Identity 2.0 Collective's Exhibition 'This Machine is Black' Explores Digital Racism and Afrofuturism at LCB Depot

The exhibition 'This Machine is Black' at LCB Depot in Leicester presents a critical examination of Black identity within digital systems, running until 30 August. Conceived by the collective Identity 2.0, the show investigates themes of deepfakes, systemic racism, Afrofuturism, and abolition through four distinct thematic spaces. Curators and Identity 2.0 cofounders Arda Awais and Savena Surana provide foundational definitions of 'race' and 'technology' that anchor the exhibition. The 'Deep Fakes' section features 'All Leaves Matter' by London-based Nigerian designer Adza Tarka, which critiques systems of oppression. 'Invisibility and Hypervisibility of Blackness' presents a historical timeline researched by Savena Surana with Hannah Uguru, connecting slavery to modern technological surveillance like Amazon's face recognition. The 'Afrofuturism' space includes 'Man-made maps' (2021) by designer Hannah Thomas and writer Lauren Gee, which juxtaposes colonial and original place names, alongside five science-fiction posters by various artists depicting Black historical moments. The final 'Abolition' section displays a quote from cyberpunk author William Gibson and a trellis with visitor responses, emphasizing community engagement. The exhibition is described as more manifesto than traditional art show, aiming to educate on racial inequalities embedded in technology. It is part of the Remark platform, an ArtReview collaboration with BACKLIT focused on East Midlands art writing.