Jon Rafman
Jon Rafman
Jon Rafman
Jon Rafman is a Canadian artist and filmmaker recognized for his innovative use of digital media to explore themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of contemporary culture in the age of technology.
Born in 1981 in Montreal, Rafman gained prominence through his work that frequently combines photography, video, and virtual reality, creating immersive experiences that challenge perceptions of reality and digital interaction. His artistic practice often interrogates the relationship between the virtual and the physical, reflecting on how digital environments shape human experience.One of Rafman's most notable projects, KID 00:00, delves into the intersection of youth culture and the internet, presenting a poignant commentary on the ways in which online spaces influence personal identity and social dynamics. Through his explorations of virtual worlds, Rafman raises critical questions about nostalgia, surveillance, and the impact of technology on society. His work often blends humor with melancholy, providing a nuanced perspective on the human condition in an increasingly digital landscape.
Rafman has exhibited internationally in prestigious institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, and the Barbican Centre in London. His contributions to contemporary art have solidified his position as a leading voice in the discourse surrounding digital media and its implications for modern society. By continuously pushing the boundaries of artistic expression through technology, Jon Rafman invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with the digital world.
Petra Cortright’s core practice is the creation and distribution of digital and physical images using consumer or caorporate software. She became renowned for making self-portrait videos that use her computer’s webcam and default effects tools, which she would then upload to YouTube and caption with spam text. Cortright’s paintings on aluminum, linen, paper, or acrylic are created in Photoshop using painting software and appropriated images, icons, and marks. The digital files are endlessly modifiable, but at a “decisive moment” they are translated into two-dimensional objects. They become finite, yet their range of motifs and marks, and their disorienting perspectives and dimensions suggest dynamic change. Cortright lives and works in Altadena, CA. She studied Fine Arts at Parsons School of Design, The New School, New York, NY (2008) and the California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA (2004). Her works are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (New York), The Péréz Museum (Miami), The Bass Museum (Miami), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Hammer Museum (Los Angeles), Moderna Museet (Stockholm), MOTI (Breda) in collaboration with Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam), MCA Chicago, Kadist Foundation (San Francisco), BAMPFA (Berkeley, CA), the San Jose Museum of Art (San Jose, CA), Rhizome’s Net Art Anthology, and MOCA Los Angeles.