Writing the History of the Future

The ZKM Collection

The ZKM Collection
The ZKM Collection
Duration
3:34
Category
Exhibition
Date
23.02.2019
Description

In an extraordinary compilation, the ZKM presents the main works from its globally unique media art collection.
In the twentieth century technical media radically transformed the image. Beginning with the scandalous medium of photography, in which images seemingly generated themselves, media »transformed the entire nature of art« (Walter Benjamin). Photography, film, phonography, radio, television, video, computers, and the Internet have redefined the relationship between artist, work, and viewer as well as our notion of the creative act. The exhibition Writing the History of the Future exemplifies the transformation of art due to the changing technologies of production, reception, and distribution. It also shows how artists anticipate media and social practices that will only become self-evident for society in general years later. As the title of the exhibition says, they write the history of the future.
Artworks of the Exhibition
With more than 500 objects, the exhibition shows the diversity of the arts in the media change.

Video documentary:

ZKM | Videostudio

Camera: Xenia Leidig, Tim Wenz, Christina Zartmann
Editing: Christina Zartmann
Music: Ian Fisher, 10Dollars

Participants

Participants

Exhibitions / Events

Images

Open Gallery
  • In a dark room, videos of two sleeping people are projected onto the wall. In front of them are two viewers.
    Bill Viola, »Threshold«, 1992
  • White polystyrene balls hang in a black room, the balls are painted with fluorescent paint and are illuminated.
    Effekt, »Kugelkabinett«, 1965, at the Exhibition »Writing the History of the Future»
  • A mosaic of colored surfaces extends from the wall to the floor
    Hiroshi Kawano, »Simulated Color Mosaic«, 1969–2011
  • Peter Weibel in front of a showcase with virtual books at the exhibition »Writing the History of the Future«
    Exhibition View »Writing the History of the Future«
  • A smartphone in camera mode photographs the beams of colorful light prisms.
    Alberto Biasi, »Light Prisms, Cinereticolo spettrale«, 1962–1965
  • Colorfully illuminated books are stacked to form a sculpture.
    Airan Kang, »The Space of Book. The Sublime«, 2009
  • Visitor in front of Fietzek's »blackboard«, an empty green school board on which previously invisible texts appear with the help of a monitor.
    Frank Fietzek, »Die Tafel«, 1993–1994, at the Exhibition »Writing the History of the Future«
  • In a glass lens you can see yellow glowing ornaments
    Karl Gerstner, »Linsenbild« aus der Serie: édition MAT collection64, 1962/64
  • Nam June Paik, »Arche Noah«, 1989, ZKM | Karlsruhe
    Nam June Paik, »Arche Noah«, 1989, ZKM | Karlsruhe
  • A huge metal mill wheel stands in an exhibition room. At the mill wheel there are tube screens on which videos of water are played.
    Fabrizio Plessi, »Tempo Liquido«, 1993
  • An installation by Dieter Hacker. Colored photographs are distributed on the floor of the exhibition space.
    Dieter Hacker, »All Power to Amateurs«, 1978

Images

Overview
  • In a dark room, videos of two sleeping people are projected onto the wall. In front of them are two viewers.
    Bill Viola, »Threshold«, 1992
  • White polystyrene balls hang in a black room, the balls are painted with fluorescent paint and are illuminated.
    Effekt, »Kugelkabinett«, 1965, at the Exhibition »Writing the History of the Future»
  • A mosaic of colored surfaces extends from the wall to the floor
    Hiroshi Kawano, »Simulated Color Mosaic«, 1969–2011
  • Peter Weibel in front of a showcase with virtual books at the exhibition »Writing the History of the Future«
    Exhibition View »Writing the History of the Future«
  • A smartphone in camera mode photographs the beams of colorful light prisms.
    Alberto Biasi, »Light Prisms, Cinereticolo spettrale«, 1962–1965
  • Colorfully illuminated books are stacked to form a sculpture.
    Airan Kang, »The Space of Book. The Sublime«, 2009
  • Visitor in front of Fietzek's »blackboard«, an empty green school board on which previously invisible texts appear with the help of a monitor.
    Frank Fietzek, »Die Tafel«, 1993–1994, at the Exhibition »Writing the History of the Future«
  • In a glass lens you can see yellow glowing ornaments
    Karl Gerstner, »Linsenbild« aus der Serie: édition MAT collection64, 1962/64
  • Nam June Paik, »Arche Noah«, 1989, ZKM | Karlsruhe
    Nam June Paik, »Arche Noah«, 1989, ZKM | Karlsruhe
  • A huge metal mill wheel stands in an exhibition room. At the mill wheel there are tube screens on which videos of water are played.
    Fabrizio Plessi, »Tempo Liquido«, 1993
  • An installation by Dieter Hacker. Colored photographs are distributed on the floor of the exhibition space.
    Dieter Hacker, »All Power to Amateurs«, 1978

Video