Jeremy Couillard, a former high-school Spanish teacher turned New York-based artist, creates surreal video games with absurd narratives, such as Escape from Lavender Island. The game allows players to take on the role of Zede Aksis, navigating through a dystopian city filled with neon hues and comedic elements like shooting pharmaceuticals with masks. Couillard’s exhibition at the MIT List Visual Arts Center also includes a video installation and colorful paintings mirroring the game’s aesthetics. Through his work, Couillard critiques the isolation technology brings to society, highlighting the struggle to escape contemporary life while emphasizing the need for human connection amidst a tech-centric world.
https://www.artbasel.com/stories/jeremy-couillard-video-games-mit-list-visual-arts-center-critique-contemporary-life-digital-landscapes