#Show

2017 | Painting, Installation

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"#Show" by Juan Carlos Rosa Casasola juxtaposes tropical plants and clothing racks to critically examine consumerism and identity, inspired by Guy Debord’s "The Society of the Spectacle," 50 years after its publication. The series explores the tension between "to be, to have, and to seem" in a society driven by images, expanding on Debord’s idea that “everything that was once directly experienced has become a mere representation” by incorporating virtual reality-like visuals.

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Addressing the global phenomenon of visibility in the digital age, Casasola examines how the internet, NICTs, and the fast-fashion industry fuel our desire to see and be seen. Clothing becomes a tool for expressing identity—shaping gender, religion, socio-economic status, and lifestyle. The series challenges the notion of cheap fashion as a democratizing force, questioning the environmental and social impact of overconsumption and whether it truly leads to equality or just reinforces consumerist cycles.

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By drawing parallels between fashion and plant reproduction, Casasola invites reflection on how clothes, as markers of identity, transcend social boundaries, including race, age, body size, and sexual orientation, sparking broader questions about our relationship to materialism and individuality.