Aernout Mik

By interrogating the most basic ideas of narrative and reality and rejecting classical cinematic ideals, Dutch artist Aernout Miks creates works that are rich in allusion but subversive of codes. This title explores Miks work and process. It discusses the creative aspects of Miks installations that extend the traditional boundaries of media.

Dutch artist Aernout Mik’s moving-image installations meld filmmaking, sculpture and architecture into experiences that are at once compelling, unsettling, peculiar and plausible. The artist designs and constructs architectural spaces that hold his moving images, making the viewer’s physical relationship to his work a critical component of the overall experience. By interrogating the most basic ideas of narrative and reality and rejecting classical cinematic ideals, Mik creates works that are rich in allusion but subversive of codes. Published to accompany the artist’s first US retrospective, this volume is a vivid exploration of Mik’s work and process. Laurence Kardish, MoMA’s Senior Curator in the Department of Film, discusses the unique, creative aspects of Mik’s installations that extend the traditional boundaries of media, while Michael Taussig, professor of anthropology at Columbia University, investigates how the artist’s work changes the way we see reality while reinforcing the norms of visual culture. Abundantly illustrated with stills and the artist’s own drawings of works in the exhibition, Aernout Mik features detailed descriptions of the installations, an exhibition history and a bibliography, making it the most comprehensive volume about Mik and his work available in English.