Cary Silverman: The Antisocialization Project
In coffee shops, dinner tables, and park benches around the world, a paradox of modern life unfolds. We've never been more digitally connected, yet genuine human interaction feels increasingly rare. This exhibition captures moments where physical togetherness and digital isolation collide—people gathered in social spaces, yet separated by the invisible walls of their devices.
These photographs document a subtle transformation in human behavior that occurred so gradually we barely noticed. Friends sit in silence scrolling through distant feeds. Families gather with heads bowed, taking in notifications rather than conversation. Couples share space but not presence; the digital world claims their attention beyond their relationship. What emerges isn't merely a new social habit but a fundamental rewiring of our social instincts—the average American now spends over seven hours daily on devices, time once devoted to face-to-face interaction.
The cruel irony is that tools designed to enhance connection often leave us more isolated than before. These images serve as mirrors, inviting viewers to recognize their own behaviors and consider what we sacrifice when we choose the digital over the physical, the distant over the immediate, the many shallow connections over the few deep ones.
As you view this exhibit, notice your own impulse to reach for your phone. Instead, perhaps turn to the stranger beside you. Share an observation. Ask a question. Experience the mild discomfort and subsequent reward of genuine human connection—the very experience these photographs show slipping from our grasp.
