ALGORITHM is a narrative driven installation by Matthew Olivier. Launched in 2023, the project unfolds across social platforms as a series of short-form videos voiced by a fictional British character Olivier describes as “the voice in my head”. At first glance, the format feels native to social media. But the experience of watching it is something else entirely. These videos shift the pace. They create room for reflection where speed is usually the default.

Olivier draws on his painting background to shape each video as a visual composition. He uses language the way he uses pigment, composed through connections rather than color. He’s making paintings, so to speak, that happen to live inside a feed. The result: a visual philosophy.

As it moves through systems built for distraction, ALGORITHM follows a different logic. It is a strategic act of presence. And rather than competing for viewers' attention, it earns it over time. The work creates its own pace and carries a lasting presence that stays with viewers long after they’ve scrolled on.

What began as a personal project now reaches more than 30 million viewers each month, and that number continues to grow. The audience includes gallerists, collectors, museum professionals, creatives, and many who might never describe themselves as part of the art world. Olivier has created a space where history and culture circulate on public terms, and where engagement feels personal. The result is an artist who moves fluently between institutions and a mass audience, reshaping how art can be made and shared.

Recent collaborations include M+ in Hong Kong and the Munch Museum in Oslo, where the project became part of institutional programming. These commissions weren’t presented separately. They became part of the overall installation itself.

In a time shaped by algorithms, ALGORITHM reclaims the term. So as the project continues, it challenges what social media is capable of holding, beyond just entertainment, treating the algorithm not just as a tool but also as part of Matthew's material.