Marc-Aurèle Debut's 'ON REPEAT' Explores Intimacy and Repetition in Dating Culture
The exhibition 'ON REPEAT' by Marc-Aurèle Debut will be held at GLASSHOUSE in London from June 25 to August 1, 2026. This showcase delves into the impact of modern systems on intimacy and emotional openness. Among the featured pieces are 'Circulation,' created from donated men's underwear attached to plastic tags, and 'Auto Repeat,' a sound installation lasting 4 minutes and 25 seconds. Debut's work, inspired by his observations of dating applications, emphasizes how technology can lead to comparison and decision-making. He remarks that expressing emotional vulnerability often seems more challenging than physical intimacy, stating, "Today it can sometimes feel easier to sit on someone's face than tell them you love them." The exhibition prompts personal reflection without offering solutions, as donors grappled with emotional difficulties in parting with their items.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'ON REPEAT' runs June 25–August 1, 2026 at GLASSHOUSE in London.
- Work 'Circulation' uses hundreds of donated men's underwear joined with plastic kimble tags.
- Sound piece 'Auto Repeat' is 4 minutes 25 seconds with no beginning or end.
- Debut's work stems from personal dating app experiences and broader cultural observations.
- The artist states physical intimacy is often easier than emotional vulnerability.
- Donors took weeks or months to part with underwear tied to personal memories.
- Exhibition explores repetition as both supportive ritual and automatic behavior.
- Debut aims to raise awareness of systems shaping intimacy without offering solutions.
Entities
Artists
- Marc-Aurèle Debut
Institutions
- GLASSHOUSE
- Gathering
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom