Gabriel George

Hello

HELLO is a sculptural work that reflects on how technological advancement has transformed, and in some ways diminished, verbal communication. While 91% of the global population owns a cell phone, face-to-face and spoken interactions have declined. This piece highlights the growing reliance on digital devices and the subtle loss of natural conversation.

“We live in a world full of technological advancements that bring many benefits, but also some unintended drawbacks. For example, how often do we truly enjoy talking to each other on the phone anymore? According to 2022 statistics, about 91% of the world’s population owns a cell phone. Yet, real conversations have decreased. Phones have become our closest companions—we often text someone in the same room instead of speaking face to face. Modern technology has improved global connectivity but weakened our natural way of communication. Many of us forget the importance of speaking to each other.My sculpture, HELLO, is a response to this shift. It emphasizes the value of verbal communication. The artwork is made using parts of old and new phones—like handsets, circuit boards, speakers, and signal devices. As robot sales hit record highs in 2022, especially talking robots, humanoid robots are becoming more common. I added humanoid features to the sculpture to make it feel more interactive and relatable. A hazard sign on the forehead serves as a warning about what we might lose due to over-dependence on technology. The sculpture has a copper-oxidized finish, symbolizing the use of copper wires in telecommunication since the 19th century.HELLO blends old and new communication tools, inviting viewers to reflect on how we connect—and how we can reconnect—through the simple act of speaking.”