Ben Werther’s debut exhibition at No Gallery (105 Henry St. #4 NYC NY), "When you can no longer speak, sing me a song," offers a compelling fusion of reality and fiction, underscored by a visual style that strikingly resembles video game aesthetics. At first glance, his photographs might be mistaken for screenshots from a war-themed video game, capturing the chaos and intensity of battle in hyper-realistic detail. However, these images are not derived from actual wars but from Werther’s participation in Military Simulation (MilSim) games, a form of Live Action Role Play (LARP) that eschews historical accuracy for a continuous creation driven by participants' fantasies and personal conceptions of violence.
Ben Werther, When you can no longer speak, sing me a song, installation shot. Image courtesy of the artist and NO GALLERY
Werther’s approach in these multi-day events over three years was dual: he was both a participant immersed in the simulated combat and a documentarian capturing the experience from a first-person perspective. This immersive practice blurs the lines between reality and fiction, drawing viewers into a world that is at once familiar and disorientingly fabricated. The result is a body of work that borrows from the visual language of objective reporting, mockumentary, and found footage horror films, challenging the viewer's perception of authenticity and narrative while evoking the graphic realism of video games.
Ben Werther, When you can no longer speak, sing me a song, installation shot. Image courtesy of the artist and NO GALLERY
MilSim, unlike traditional war reenactments bound by historical events, is a fluid and dynamic environment where the action is continuously redefined by the players. Werther’s photographs reflect this ever-changing landscape, capturing moments that feel both intensely real and wholly constructed, much like the dynamic scenarios found in video games. The images serve as a commentary on the nature of violence, memory, and media, exploring how personal and collective fantasies shape our understanding of conflict.
Ben Werther, “The hero, the narcissist”, 2023 – dye sublimation print on aluminum – edition of 3 – 11 x 8 x 1½ in. Image courtesy of the artist and nononogallery
Werther’s practice extends beyond photography. An impulsive collector from a young age, he frequently incorporates found materials into his work, recontextualizing them as social artifacts. This methodology is evident in "When you can no longer speak, sing me a song," where the photographs are not just images but artifacts of an imagined reality. They prompt viewers to question the nature of documentation and the role of personal narrative in constructing history.
Ben Werther – “Hyper-luxury”, 2023 – dye sublimation print on aluminum – edition of 3 – 7 x 11 x 1½ in. Image courtesy of the artist and nononogallery
Born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1998, Werther received his BFA from Cooper Union in 2020. His work is represented by Amanita, NYC, and this exhibition marks his first collaboration with No Gallery. Located in the Lower East Side, Manhattan, No Gallery was established in 2019 with a mission to push the boundaries of contemporary art programming. The gallery’s focus on nuanced explorations of social, personal, and cultural paradigms makes it a fitting venue for Werther’s complex and thought-provoking body of work.
LINK: Ben Werther's When you can no longer speak, sing me a song
