Book Description
Omar Kholeif is a prominent figure in the fields of digital culture and contemporary art, renowned for his deep understanding of internet culture, digital art, and new media. A versatile curator, writer, and editor, Kholeif has extensive international experience, having worked with numerous globally recognized art institutions and curated many high-profile exhibitions.
Born in Egypt and raised in the UK, Kholeif’s academic background spans visual culture, film, and digital art. His career has developed in parallel with the growth of the internet, with a particular focus on exploring the impact of digitalization on contemporary art and how digital media shapes our culture and society. His curatorial work covers a wide range of themes, from digital art and internet culture to socio-political issues, often challenging traditional concepts and promoting a deeper understanding of new media.
Kholeif has served as a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA Chicago) and held key positions at various international art institutions, including the Serpentine Galleries in London, Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, and the Sharjah Biennial. He is also the author and editor of several books on contemporary art and digital culture, many of which have become essential references in the field.
Omar Kholeif’s work goes beyond showcasing art; he is dedicated to exploring and revealing how the digital age is redefining our world, using art as a lens to understand this process. His contributions have made him an indispensable voice in the study of contemporary digital art and culture.
A leading figure in the world of networked culture, Kholeif delves into the artists and events that have defined the mass medium of our time. Since the birth of the World Wide Web in 1989, the art world has grappled with the rise of networked culture. This book presents an unprecedented survey of the artists and innovators in this field from 1989 to the present, intertwined with the personal narrative of one of the leading voices in the digital world.
In this book, Omar Kholeif, whose prolific career parallels the growth of the internet, tells the story of this mass medium and explores how it has created new possibilities for both analog and digital artists. The book showcases multimedia works by legendary artists including Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Nam June Paik, Heather Phillipson, and Wu Tsang. From the emergence of browser-based art to the dawn of NFTs, this book traces the key artists and innovators in a story that is as much about the present as it is about the future.
Details
Author: Omar Kholeif
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Dimensions: 20×13 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 296 pages