Perfections

This book presents the fiercely intelligent internet-based performance of artist Amalia Ulman, which she eventually revealed to be a critical artwork about issues of online identity. The illustrations are presented in chronological order to give readers the experience of viewing the work as an uninterrupted stream, in the way her followers first saw them on social media.

Amalia Ulman's performance "Excellences & Perfections", which unfolded on Instagram in 2014, follows an aspiring it-girl who undergoes a series of cosmetic surgeries and lifestyle changes to help jumpstart her career. For six months, Ulman mesmerized her followers with nearly daily posts that documented a young woman trying on different personas in order to make her way in the world. Finally, the real Amalia Ulman revealed the fiction that she had created--a performance piece about identity, gender, class, sexuality, and lifestyle porn.

A forerunner of a new brand of performance art, Ulman has made a significant statement about the intersection of life and art--one that couldn't be more timely or compelling. Her work challenges the boundaries between reality and fiction, and invites the viewer to reflect on the constructed nature of online identities and the ways in which we curate our digital selves.

The book's format, with the illustrations presented chronologically, allows the reader to experience the work as Ulman's followers did, following the unfolding narrative in real-time. This approach heightens the sense of immersion and engagement, and underscores the performative aspect of the work.

Ulman's "Excellences & Perfections" is a groundbreaking example of how digital technologies and social media platforms can be leveraged to create new forms of artistic expression. By blurring the line between art and life, Ulman invites us to question our assumptions about authenticity, identity, and the nature of the self in the digital age.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary art, performance, and the intersections of digital culture and identity. Ulman's work is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the ways in which we present ourselves to the world, both online and offline, and the ways in which these presentations are shaped by societal norms and expectations.

Overall, this book offers a compelling and insightful look at the work of a truly innovative artist, and serves as a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue about the role of art in the digital age.

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