Limitless

This interactive real-time artwork comments on the volatility of the stock market and the ephemeral nature of wealth, through an exploration of the intersection of technology, finance and mythology. Harris employs live market data, organising company logos according to their success in the form a tower, a symbol for humankind’s desire for greatness. Instead of bricks and mortar, however, the tower is constructed of reflective gold, serving as a metaphor for the enticing yet deceptive nature of affluence and power.
Drawing inspiration from the Tower of Babel, a story highlighting the perils of unchecked ambition, Limitless encourages viewers to consider the impact of the interconnected global economy and the relentless pursuit of profit.
While the artwork can operate purely as a beautiful visualisation of the continuous ebb and flow of the markets, Harris has introduced a further twist. The artwork responds to the touch of the viewer, transforming the gold symbol of a given company into golden portraits of its CEOs. Their inclusion emphasises the role of individual agency in shaping the market and driving economic growth. By showing the faces of the people at the helm of these companies, the artwork reminds viewers that the market is not an impersonal force. Limitless encourages viewers to question the motives and values of powerful corporate figures and think about the affect their actions and decisions have on society as a whole.
Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of technology to make sense of complex data sets and reveal insights into everything from business trends to public health. Harris builds on this trend in Limitless with immaculate and obsessive attention to detail, colour and movement on a physically large and looming canvas. The choice of colour, gold, has long been a symbol of wealth and power, and Harris’s control over it fills the surrounding room with warmth and optimism.
However, the inclusion of tarnished gold also reveals the darker side of this pursuit, alluding to the stain of corruption and decay. By portraying poorer-performing stocks with a gold that has lost its lustre, the artwork clearly distinguishes between success and failure, between the companies that are thriving and those that are struggling. This contrast emphasises the precarious nature of prosperity and the competing forces at play.
As Harris beckons viewers to observe and engage with the piece, he establishes a visual discourse on the relationship between wealth and success while questioning the values that underpin society. It is a reminder that, although technology and finance may provide new avenues for growth and innovation, they remain susceptible to the pitfalls of human nature.