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The Backend, on view at the George Segal Gallery from September 14 – December 1, 2023, is a group exhibition of works by thirteen contemporary artists who delve into the protocols and agreements that shape our society and the framework of our participation. These often hidden structures, such as the code behind digital platforms or legal systems that dictate the use and access to information, significantly impact our daily lives and cannot be skirted without voiding participation. Artists approach these arrangements often already in place without mutual agreement, revealing societal givens we are born into regardless of our willingness and understanding. The artists aim to reveal these hidden structures and how they manifest, where encounters with refusals, confusion, bureaucracy, and denial function like dog whistles to investigate further.
