“Study Work Relax” subverts the familiar format of lo-fi study beats videos that have become the unofficial soundtrack of digital productivity culture. Initially presented as a conventional lo-fi environment with gentle beats and comforting visuals, the piece gradually accumulates layers of digital interference – productivity metrics, achievement notifications, and wellness reminders that transform the meditative space into an anxiety-producing performance of relaxation.
These interruptions, styled as iOS notifications, demonstrate how contemporary technology reframes relaxation as another task to optimize and quantify. Messages like “Your peace metrics are below target” and “Upgrade to Premium Zen™” expose the commodification of tranquility in late capitalism. The persistent clock display serves as escape from productivity demands. Through this gradual accumulation of digital anxiety, the work examines how the attention economy has colonized our attempts at finding peace, transforming even our moments of rest into opportunities for optimization and consumption.
