Maria Antelman, Disassembler, 2018

A disassembler is a reverse engineer tool, a computer program that translates machine language (code) into assembly language for humans to understand. Drawing from Maria Antelman’s eponymous video installation, Disassembler juxtaposes technical instructions for Amazon’s newly engineered wristband—designed to control and monitor every movement of the worker’s hand to optimize performance—with experiential depictions drawn from the organic world. In doing so, the artist raises questions about the physical and psychological impact that the automated industry exerts on the human body and society.