Heaven Baek: Platforms of Reality (Bilingual edition)

Platforms of Reality explores Heaven Baek's work, which questions the reality of video timelines and instant realities with a strong sense of immediacy, collective memories, and staged realities. It is divided into four chapters, each exploring a different sense of reality, using the "platform" as a stage or, where trains leave from different tracks with different destinations, crossing paths while encountering each other continuously.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2024
Publisher: Hatje Cantz

Platforms of Reality delves into a comprehensive analysis and interpretation of Heaven Baek's artistic oeuvre, permeating the composition of individuals and society in both real and staged contexts. Spanning from her early works to her recent practice, Baek challenges the authenticity of video timelines and instantaneous realities, evoking a profound sense of immediacy, collective memories, and staged realities. Through meticulously crafted performances, she effectively represents the overwhelming flood of real information that has somehow lost its purpose and meaning.

The book is organized into four distinct chapters, each exploring a different facet of reality. The term "platform" serves as a metaphorical stage, where trains depart from separate tracks, intersecting and continuously encountering each other. These platforms can be envisioned as the stages upon which Baek's artistic endeavors unfold, bringing together her diverse artistic approaches, ranging from drawing to video to installation.

In the first chapter, "Platforms of Immediacy," Baek explores the concept of immediacy in her artistic practice. She questions the authenticity of captured moments and the reliability of our perception of time. Through her work, she seeks to challenge the conventional notion of reality and invite viewers to contemplate the fleeting nature of existence.

The second chapter, "Platforms of Collective Memories," delves into the role of collective memories in shaping our understanding of reality. Baek examines how individuals and communities construct and preserve memories, often through shared experiences and cultural narratives. She explores how these memories can be manipulated, distorted, or forgotten, and how they contribute to the construction of our collective identity.

The third chapter, "Platforms of Staged Realities," examines the concept of staged realities in art and society. Baek explores how artists create works that blur the boundaries between reality and fiction, challenging our perception of what is real and what is not. She examines the role of performance, staging, and the audience in shaping the interpretation and meaning of artistic works.

The fourth chapter, "Platforms of Research and Artistic Methodologies," explores Baek's approach to research and artistic methodologies. She discusses her process of gathering information, conducting experiments, and integrating various artistic mediums into her work. Baek emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the fusion of different perspectives in shaping her artistic vision.

Through Platforms of Reality, Heaven Baek invites us to reconsider our understanding of reality and the role of art in shaping our perception of the world. Her multidisciplinary approach and thoughtful exploration of complex themes make this book a valuable contribution to the field of art and cultural studies.

Weight: 800g
Dimension: 280 x 230 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783775756495