Glow of Disconnection
- Rachel Wolfe
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Reflexive Statement
Glow of Disconnection emerged from a personally felt paradox: that while we are more digitally connected than ever, authentic human connection is quietly slipping away. This tension shaped my work, alongside a hope that awareness might help restore what is essential to being human: authentic presence and real connection.
The aphorism plays in a loop, beginning with a spinning connectivity icon and an iPhone-style header reading No Service, alongside battery, data, and Wi-Fi icons. When the signal briefly returns, people appear around a campfire, absorbed in their phones, lit by the cool blue glow of screens instead of warm firelight. The phrase In a world more connected than ever appears in a tech-style font before the screen glitches and the connection drops again. As the loop continues, fading icons accompany the phrases we forget that connection is not just a signal, and it is vital for our survival, before all connectivity icons are depleted and the battery turns red.
The concept developed through reflection on my values and principles as a mother and artist. I am concerned by how technology is reshaping our ability to form real connections. As a mother, I have seen its impact on my children’s relationships, and as an artist who values authenticity and meaningful engagement, I am troubled by how easily digital life can replace genuine presence. This reflection was influenced by Dr. Bill von Hippel, an evolutionary psychologist, whose work highlights that human survival has always depended on strong social bonds. From ancient communities gathering around fires to modern families isolated in their own digital worlds, the contrast is stark. Technology promises connection, yet often weakens the very thing we rely on to thrive, human connection.
I intended the aphorism to have dual meaning, with “connection” referring both to digital networks and to our evolutionary need for each other. The image reinforces this idea: people gathered around a campfire, a symbol of ancient social connection, yet disengaged and absorbed in the blue screens. Feedback from class critiques helped refine the work to be more accessible and visually cohesive: I improved text contrast, added the iPhone-style interface to deepen the narrative, and used glitching transitions to sequence the video. I used Canva to design the video, combining Shutterstock imagery, a tech-style font, and image animation to build a looping visual that supports the aphorism.
The realisation of this aphorism led me to reflect on the power of language in public space which enables shared, unfiltered engagement, offering moments of honest reflection beyond algorithms and curated feeds. Inspired by designer/thinker Bruce Mau’s 2004 Massive Change project and Robert Montgomery’s poetic billboards, I saw how text can reclaim public space as a site for reflection. My work doesn't offer answers but invites contemplation on how we stay present in a digital world.
This process has strengthened my belief that words, when placed with care, can extend meaningful dialogue, and that will remain central to my ongoing arts practice. In an age of distraction and real disconnection, this work has reaffirmed for me that art, and language in particular, can quietly remind us of what it means to be human.
Rachel Wolfe
28 March 2025
Bibliography:
· “Asian Women Using Mobile Phone to Communicate.” Shutterstock, accessed 18 March 2025. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/asian-women-using-mobile-phone-communicate-1175670961.
· Juxtapoz Magazine, “Robert Montgomery: 21st Century Troubadour.” Juxtapoz Magazine, February 2017, accessed 20 March 2025, https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/magazine/robert-montgomery-21st-century-troubadour/.
· Mau, Bruce. MC24: Bruce Mau’s 24 Principles for Designing Massive Change in Your Life and Work. London: Phaidon Press, 2020.
· Mau, Bruce. “An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth.” Bruce Mau Studio, 1998, accessed April 8, 2024, https://www.brucemaustudio/projects/an-incomplete-manifesto-for-growth.
· The Beautiful Truth, “Robert Montgomery: All the World’s A Page.” The Beautiful Truth, Issue 04, October 28, 2024, accessed 20 March 2025, https://thebeautifultruth.org/interviews/robert-montgomery-all-the-worlds-a-page/.
· Von Hippel, Bill. “Behavioural Psychologist: We're Not Having Enough Sex! Fat Makes You Attractive & the Poorer You Are the Friendlier You Are!” Interview by Steven Bartlett, Diary of a CEO Podcast, February 17, 2025. Audio, 1:55. https://open.spotify.com/episode/07AYW6bcUtBqoKHOGtWl9n?si=airHKDeeQk2UnuVO4kuSjA&nd=1&dlsi=eaee51a507f84bdf#login
Glow of Disconnection, a Reflexive Statement was originally submitted as part of my Bachelor of Fine Arts studies at the University of Tasmania. Shared here to document my creative development and artistic practice.
Rachel Wolfe is an emerging artist based in Hobart, Tasmania, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Tasmania. With a diverse and evolving practice, Rachel explores various mediums and techniques to create captivating and thought-provoking works of art. To explore Rachel's latest projects and artistic journey, visit her website www.rachelwolfe.com.au or follow her on social media.
