Yasi Ghanbari: Yo! I'm Your C.E.O.

Through her interest in interpassivity, the outsourcing of feelings and actions to others, Ghanbari criticizes companies who have interwoven capitalist strategies and humanitarian concerns. In particular, she displays an array of products applying the “buy one, give one” model, addressing the issue of consumer impunity: a marketing strategy providing a sense of apparent social consciousness by for-profit companies and abundantly factored in their profit/loss schemes.

Despite the fact that public acceptance and brand loyalty grows as products appear to benefit both the individual and their conscience, Ghanbari points out that something is missing from the equation. Assuming the character role of the self-aware artist, she sets a stage of heavy-handed ‘feel-good’ marketing, complete with the appropriate commodities. Through her colorful installations, Ghanbari examines the social effects of people growing closer to businesses, while only half-heartedly attempting to extricate herself from this process. Ghanbari’s work wedges apart the blurred connection of the interests of the individual and the interests of the community, highlighting the desire for authenticity in branding.