Infinite truths and untruths: the para-fictional mirror

Exploring the rise of para-fictional artists in contemporary art (artists with a body of work attributed to them, that never existed but have been exhibited. FAKES!)

The paper plots the course of such artworks, spanning postmodernism into the current metamodern, late capitalist era. The research looks at the historiographic conventions adopted in order to create the fiction - usually archives, biographies and other evidences, designed to deceive. I critique the function, communication and context of the works, which when analysed, shine a light on the broader socio-economic and political conditions at play. Case studies explored in depth: Joan Foncuberta, Reena Spauldings, Lester Hayes and Aaron Brown. There are A LOT of others across the cultural sphere.

The paper features images of fictional universes or portrayals of space, linking to George Kubler’s description of history as ‘faint starlight’ - the further back in time, the more distant the light - a metaphor that postmodern theory on history has debunked. Stories from the past are supernova or black holes, flashes of relevance from unexpected, forgotten corners. This metaphor was referred to throughout as a conceptual framework.

MA Thesis 2018