Dump Inventory

In Dump Inventory, we delve into the artists’ fascination with examining video games of the past, and highlight the inheret nature of the replacibility of video games. Virtual elements like armor, trinkets, tools, and wealth, whether found or crafted, were initially designed to immerse participants in a role-playing experience where social status hinged on possessing specific valuable items. These items currently reside in a forgotten server somewhere, waiting to be played with again.

The boundary between fiction and reality becomes obscured in both the portrayal and execution of these works, highlighting the indistinct line between what is commonly perceived as real and fake. The fictional realms within games serve as mirrors to real-world systems, prompting a reevaluation of the historical elements that constitute games and offering a perspective on reconstructing our vision of a future where technology, fiction, and reality are more intricately intertwined.

I am logging on to see what would be left of all my endevors. So much of my time has been spent there. Money which has been made by real physical labor, flowed from one pocket to the other, to finally end up in a virtual vault, never to been seen again. The
cyclic evolution of titles and systems renders the past obsolete, each iteration swiftly replaced by a newer version of the same genre the following year. A continuous cycle of creation and obsolescence.

While some terminated servers find preservation through the dedicated efforts of nostalgic players, even these digital sanctuaries succumb to a gradual decline in population. What was once a vibrant and bustling world, meticulously crafted for seekers of adventure and connection, now stands as an empty husk—a tough reminder of bygone friendships. The virtual landscapes that once thrived with life and purpose now echo with a quiet emptiness, mirroring the impermanence of digital legacies. A time-consuming quest for a specific digital garment to elevate my role-playing experience and enhance my virtual status. The focal point, in the end, was a pixelated depiction of a fancy cloth.

About the artist:
Visually, Benjamins work playfully references and samples symbols of the online world and video games and connects with a range of historical narratives, artifacts, architectures, and mythologies. In his artistic process, personal and associative links emerge between various objects, sounds and structures that, at first glance, appear to lack any common logic. Yet, through weaving together these disparate parts and techniques, his own imaginary fictional realm is created, which aims to challenge the traditional norms of storytelling and fiction as an established medium. The hybrid nature of this production process introduces tension between the tangible and the virtual, and between fact and fiction.

Websiste Benjmin Pompe 

Instagram Benjamin