ACTOR and comedian Dylan Moran calls it the ‘post modern shuffle’.

You see it every time you walk down the street and are probably guilty of it yourself.

Those people who walk along as if in a daze, oblivious to their surroundings while their thumb jabs at a tiny backlit screen.

That is just one of the many changes to everyday life as a result of our technology obsessed culture that artist Peter Davis has decided to document in his new exhibition, Zeitgeist.

He said: “There’s this ubiquitous pose that the world has which is your head down and neck bent looking at a device.

“I’m just fascinated how, over the last five years, the adoption of smart phones and all personal forms of technology have become a core element of our lives. It’s really interesting to see how society is changing.”

Through 13 pieces of artwork Zeitgeist will look at our relationship with the likes of smart phones, tablets, gaming devices and e-readers to form a social documentary about the digital age and technology addiction.

Peter added: “Having the opportunity to document such a fast moving social change is fascinating. People find themselves checking their phone without even thinking. It’s become so second nature that it’s becoming almost invisible.

“Personal technology devices are our first port of call to see what’s in the news and to watch content.

“As a painter, it’s interesting to document that because over the centuries social realist painters have documented what society was doing at that time. That is why the exhibition is called Zeitgeist which means the spirit of our time. It’s also about the concept of self, the way we represent ourselves on social media and the effect that constantly going back on social media sites has on our appearance and the way we perceive ourselves.”

Thanks to social media and smart technology the world has never been more connected but at the same time these devices and apps are a constant intrusion on our genuine interactions with people. So where does Peter stand on the issue?

‘You could be going out for dinner with your partner and yet we’re taken away from the moment for a Facebook chat or to scroll through images on Instagram’

The 48-year-old said: “On the one hand I think it’s utterly amazing and it’s changed the way we connect with others on a positive level. But we’ve also got to be more conscious of where we do these virtual connections.

“The physical world is often forgotten which is why in all my paintings I take the people out of context.

“The majority of my work doesn’t have a background scene and that’s about how I see us forgetting where we are.

“You could be on a station platform or going out for dinner with your partner and yet we’re taken away from the moment for a Facebook chat or to scroll through images on Instagram.

“It immediately takes you away from the context of where you are in real life. It’s about us being together as a set of technology addicted individuals.

“We’re in it together but equally we’re just as apart as when we’re on our own because we’re all focusing on these devices.”

Either way Peter wants the exhibition to be an opportunity to step back and reflect on our swiftly changing way of life.

Peter, from Wilmslow, added: “In 10 years it might be wearable technology or even embedded technology. Technology is advancing at a rate of knots so who knows what it will be like.

“You look at 18th or 19th century paintings where there is a person wearing a beautiful garment, reading a book, looking at a map or playing dominoes in an old tavern and it’ll be interesting to see how this work is viewed by future generations.

“A lot of art can feel hard to connect with. It could be contemporary work that is quite complex or obtuse but I think my paintings resonate with a broad audience because we all have that relationship with technology to one extent or another.

“I remember the time before personal digital technology. Was it better? Was it worse? Times change but it’s important to pinch yourself and go: ‘Wow, isn’t the rate of change amazing?’ As an artist I’m trying to seize the moment as it evolves.”

Zeitgeist launches at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday and runs until April 28 as part of the extended Contemporary Arts Festival.

Peter said: “As an artist it can be hard to find support and an outlet to show your work so I think the festival is fantastic and has real respect not just within Warrington but in the broader region.

“I think Culture Warrington and the museum and art gallery are doing amazing things for emerging artists.”