Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom

This richly illustrated catalogue accompanies the first US retrospective of Paul Pfeiffer’s acclaimed multi-disciplinary practice at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Presenting era-defining photo and video works alongside his latest experiments in sculpture and installation, this volume reflects Pfeiffer’s use of a wealth of recent technologies to dissect the role that mass media plays in shaping consciousness. Throughout his work, Pfeiffer interrogates how images might shape the spectators who consume them. In his own words: ‘The question always comes up: who’s using who? Is the image making us, or do we make images?’ His works mediate on faith, desire, and the ways both are enmeshed in a contemporary culture transfixed by celebrity. This authoritative volume spans twenty-five years of practice and includes essays by Clara Kim, Paula Kroll, and Tom Gunning as well as conversations with the artist and Chanon Kenji Praepopatmongkol and with the artist, Julie Mehretu, and Lawrence Chua.

Designed by Counterspace, Michael Worthington