The Big Ideas: Reality Check

The contemporary world is one of harsh realities but also one of illusion, shape-shifting and downright obfuscation. Software plays smoke and mirrors with reality, making the fake appear flesh; while the media edits "truth" in questionable ways, politicians excel at dissembling, and geneticists tinker with reality at its core. In the arts, reality can be even more elastic–and more compelling. The post-modern era dethroned the authoritarian voice, investing in individuals the power to create their own meaning in art and in their lives. Creative, high-tech tools are now in the hands of the DIY millions. The proliferation of realities is eye-opening. It can also be numbing, making us sit back, take a breath and wonder, "What’s real?" The artists in this series play with every angle of this pressing question.