Zayd Menk is an interdisciplinary artist primarily working within sculpture and installation. Menk’s practice attempts to dissect modern technology as a hyperobject—delving into the omnipresent force that defines our era.
At the core of his work lies inquiry into the ethical, social, and ecological implications of technological progress. From the exploitation of natural resources and labor to the impact of planned obsolescence and consumer culture, Menk probes the vast and innumerable tangents that arise from our engagement with technology.
Using electronic waste as his primary material, Menk creates landscapes and interactive installations—confronting the paradoxes and contradictions inherent in our relationship with technology—considering the possibilities and limitations of our agency in a world increasingly dominated by machines.
Menk's practice has gained notable recognition, including features in CNN's Great Big Story, Aesthetica Magazine, Designboom, Wallpaper* Magazine, The Guardian, Hypebeast, My Modern Met, Time Out London, and Google's social media. He was also recently selected for the New Contemporaries 2023 program.
b. 2000, Harare, Zimbabwe
2019-2022, BA Fine Art, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
Recent Exhibitions
Solo:
2023 '[hyper</byte>]', Lion and Lamb, Farnham
2022 '[4.3><_-\›¬’°~⁰', Fine Liquids Art Gallery, London
Group:
2024 'Manchester Open 2024', Home, Manchester
2024 'New Contemporaries', Camden Art Centre, London
2023 'New Contemporaries', Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool
2023 'Open Studios', FaMAS, Bolton
2023 ‘hyperobject::01’, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth
2023 'Mapsion', Vuojoen Kartano, Eurajoki
2023 'Open Studios', FaMAS, Bolton
2022 'Platform Graduate Award 2022', Aspex Portsmouth, Portsmouth
2022 'Apophenia', Safehouse 2, London
2022 'Farnham Graduation Show', UCA, Farnham
2021 'Coming Up for Air', James Hockey Gallery, Farnham
2021 ‘<virtual-daze>’, Farnham Park, Farnham
2019 'Max Factor', The Bomb Factory Archway, London
Awards and Residencies
2023 New Contemporaries
2022 Platform Graduate Award, CVAN South East (nominated by Aspex Portsmouth)
2022 Surrey Sculpture Society Prize, Surrey Sculpture Society (runner up)