Cally Spooner

Cally Spooner is a British artist born in 1983, known for her interdisciplinary work that combines performance, film, writing, and installation to critically examine contemporary social and political issues. Her practice often engages with language, technology, and corporate systems, exploring how these forces influence human behavior and communication. Spooner’s work is known for its intellectual depth and often incorporates complex narratives that question the effects of institutional power, technology, and capitalism on individual agency and relationships.Spooner originally studied philosophy, and this background heavily informs her artistic approach, which frequently involves deconstructing philosophical ideas and recontextualizing them within everyday life. In her performances and installations, she explores how ideas are rehearsed, staged, and mediated. One of her most acclaimed works, And You Were Wonderful, On Stage (2013-2015), is a live performance and video installation that mimics the structure of a musical, using choreography, song, and scripted dialogue to reflect on how corporate language and media manipulate human behavior.A recurring theme in Spooner's work is the critique of labor and productivity, particularly in relation to the body and emotions within a capitalist framework. Her 2016 film Offshore reflects on the offshore financial industry and how deregulation and globalization shape modern life. The work uses corporate jargon and disjointed narratives to address the disconnect between global financial systems and individual experiences.Spooner has exhibited her work internationally in prestigious institutions, including the New Museum in New York, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Tate Modern in London. Her performances, films, and installations are often immersive, creating environments where viewers are encouraged to think critically about the systems and structures that govern contemporary life. Her works blend fiction, philosophy, and social critique, providing a reflective space to consider how language and systems of control influence our personal and collective realities.Through her rigorous conceptual framework and inventive use of diverse media, Cally Spooner has established herself as a thought-provoking voice in contemporary art. Her work continues to challenge audiences to reflect on how they participate in and are shaped by broader societal systems, offering a critical commentary on the intersections between language, power, and technology in the modern world.