Immersal into irrationality: reviewing Goya's satirical narratives through interactive technologies and audience participation

This PhD by Prior Portfolio explores the confluence of fine art, art history, socio-politics, and interactive technologies through a decade-long body of original research comprising 12 artworks (2013–2024). Exhibited in prestigious venues such as Gazelli Art House, the Barbican Centre, and Galloire Dubai, this research critically examines the enduring societal critique in Francisco Goya's satirical etchings and black paintings, reimagining these narratives for contemporary contexts.

Central to this investigation is the intersection of Goya's timeless symbolism and the transformative potential of interactive and immersive media. While Goya used mechanical reproduction to engage audiences, this research leverages contemporary technologies—virtual reality, interactive installations and video—to place the audience within satirical, dreamlike narratives, emphasising their complicity in societal irrationalities.

Drawing on inspirations from artists such as Rachel MacLean, Jake and Dinos Chapman, and Mario Klingemann, this research reinterprets Goya's atemporal satire to examine current societal challenges, including hyper-individualism and digital alienation. Key works, such as The Gift of the Gab (2015), Fools’ Feast (2018), and The Sleep of Reason Still Produces Monsters (2017), exemplify how interactive and immersive media can transform passive spectatorship into active, often isolating, participation.

This PhD advances interdisciplinary scholarship by:
1. Expanding the understanding of Goya’s satire as a timeless, adaptable form of societal commentary.
2. Demonstrating the transformative role of technology in fostering new modes of audience participation and immersion into satirical narratives.

By synthesising socio-political critique with technological innovation, this research offers fresh perspectives on the interplay between tradition and modernity, reinforcing the vitality of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing enduring societal narratives.