Page 25 - ART GIANTS issue of World of Art (WOA) Contemporary Art Magazine

PAUL PFEIFFER:
PROLOGUE TO THE STORY OF
THE BIRTH OF FREEDOM

Paul Pfeiffer’s exhibition Prologue to the Story of the
Birth of Freedom at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is
the most extensive presentation of his work in Europe
to date. Organized in collaboration with The Museum of
Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, the exhibition features
approximately thirty works spanning Pfeiffer’s career,
highlighting his exploration of spectacle, identity, and the
mechanisms of image-making in contemporary culture.
Pfeiffer is known for his manipulation of footage from
sporting events, music concerts, and films, using early
digital editing techniques to deconstruct familiar visual
narratives. His work examines the dualities of veneration
and objectification, particularly in relation to global icons
such as athletes and pop stars.

Paul Pfeiffer | Justin Bieber Head, 2023 Cedar wood and paint
40.6x16.5x31.8 cm. Courtesy of the artist and carlier | gebauer © Paul Pfeiffer,
Bilbao, 2024. Courtesy the artist; Paula Cooper Gallery, New York; carlier |
gebauer, Berlin/Madrid; Perrotin; and Thomas Dane Gallery, London. Paul Pfeiffer | Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (06), 2001-2018. Matte C-print
Photo by Zak Kelley
182.9 x 146.3 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin. © Paul Pfeiffer, Bilbao,
2024. Courtesy the artist; Paula Cooper Gallery, New York; carlier | gebauer,
Berlin/Madrid; Perrotin; and Thomas Dane Gallery, London

Through his installations, he challenges the artificiality of
media representations and prompts audiences to critically
reflect on their roles as consumers of imagery.
A distinctive aspect of Pfeiffer’s practice is his use of
scale, juxtaposing miniature and larger-than-life formats
to disrupt the viewer’s relationship with the artwork. His
exploration of stadium and arena architecture serves as a
lens through which he scrutinizes the collective experience
of spectatorship, revealing these spaces as more than
entertainment venues, they are arenas where societal and
political identities are shaped and contested.
The exhibition unfolds across Galleries 105 and 103,
showcasing Pfeiffer’s evolution through iconic works that
draw upon the dramatic narratives of sports and religion,
alongside recent pieces addressing colonial legacies and the
complexities of identity. By presenting these themes, Prologue
to the Story of the Birth of Freedom not only celebrates
Pfeiffer’s contributions to contemporary art but also provides
a critical framework for examining identity, belonging, and
the pervasive influence of celebrity culture in today’s media-
saturated world.

WORLD of ART 25