Anthony Byrt and Simon Denny - The Founder's Paradox

Simon Denny graduated with a BFA from Elam in 2004 and completed his post-graduate study in Frankfurt. Recent exhibitions include The Personal Effects of Kim Dotcom, Adam Art Gallery, Wellington (2014) and All You Need is Data - The DLD 2012 Conference REDUX as part of the Walter's Prize exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki (2014). Denny was selected to represent New Zealand at the 56th Venice Biennale, exhibiting Secret Power at the New Zealand Pavilion. Anthony Byrt is an Auckland-based critic and journalist. He is a regular writer for Metro, a contributing editor to Paperboy, and the New Zealand correspondent for Artforum International. His book This Model World: Travels to the Edge of Contemporary Art was shortlisted for the 2017 Ockham national book award. Together the pair have created an exhibition, The Founder's Paradox, including essays, on a series of large art pieces based on familiar board games. The games unpack extreme libertarian ideologies such as those held by 'new' New Zealander Peter Thiel and other Silicon Valley thought leaders. The Founder's Paradox is on at the Michael Lett Gallery until December 22.