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Appropriation in counterfactual art is the act of using preexisting works, such as texts, artifacts, or documents, and incorporating them into one's own artistic creations, often in a way that blurs the lines of authorship. This type of counterfactual practice can undermine conventional notions of originality and ownership by interconnecting or entangling various sources, presenting them within a new narrative or context.
An artists’ book showcases a collection of photographs that allegedly belong to Christian Boltanski at various ages: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, and 20. Gradually, it becomes clear that the accompanying narrative explains that all the learn more
An artists’ book showcases a collection of photographs that allegedly belong to Christian Boltanski at various ages: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, and 20. Gradually, it becomes clear that the accompanying narrative explains that all the pictures were captured in a single afternoon by Annette Messager, close to the waterfall within learn more

10 Portrait Photographs of Christian Boltanski, 1946 – 1964, 1972

Christian Boltanski
This meme began as a photo from one of Eva and Franco Mattes’ installations, a project 12 years in the making—though not quite as intended. In 2008, the artists created an installation featuring a large Mickey Mouse plush toy, a learn more
This meme began as a photo from one of Eva and Franco Mattes’ installations, a project 12 years in the making—though not quite as intended. In 2008, the artists created an installation featuring a large Mickey Mouse plush toy, a television, an armchair, a cabinet, a rug, and a rope. The setup was photographed and learn more

Mickey Mouse is Died (2008–2020)

Eva & Franco Mattes
In October 2003, an unassuming red-and-white information booth appeared overnight in Vienna’s Karlsplatz, emblazoned with the Nike Swoosh, a website address, and the phrase: “Nikeplatz (formerly Karlsplatz).” The installation, seemingly backed by the global sportswear brand Nike, claimed that the learn more
In October 2003, an unassuming red-and-white information booth appeared overnight in Vienna’s Karlsplatz, emblazoned with the Nike Swoosh, a website address, and the phrase: “Nikeplatz (formerly Karlsplatz).” The installation, seemingly backed by the global sportswear brand Nike, claimed that the historic square had been renamed Nikeplatz, mimicking the corporate naming practices commonly seen in sports learn more

Nike Ground (2003)

Eva & Franco Mattes
The film features Anna Baumgart, who, using the found footage strategy, becomes the heroine of the famous Soviet film “The Cranes Are Flying” by Mikhail Kalatozov, 1957. The artist, using film technology, inserts her own face instead of the face learn more
The film features Anna Baumgart, who, using the found footage strategy, becomes the heroine of the famous Soviet film “The Cranes Are Flying” by Mikhail Kalatozov, 1957. The artist, using film technology, inserts her own face instead of the face of the main character Veronica, played by Tatiana Samoilova. The 3-minute 28-second video captures the learn more

Prawdziwe? Lecą żurawie / Is it real? Cranes are flying

Anna Baumgart
The United We Stand project imagines a non-existent Hollywood-style European blockbuster film, marketed as “a brilliant mix of espionage and sci-fi political stereotypes in which Europe, not the USA, saves the world from impending doom.” Through posters, a fabricated website, learn more
The United We Stand project imagines a non-existent Hollywood-style European blockbuster film, marketed as “a brilliant mix of espionage and sci-fi political stereotypes in which Europe, not the USA, saves the world from impending doom.” Through posters, a fabricated website, and a fictional backstory, the project presented a fictional movie to audiences worldwide. The promotional learn more

United We Stand (2005)

Eva & Franco Mattes
In her series “Untitled Film Stills,” American visual artist Cindy Sherman adopts diverse stereotypical female personas, drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of 1950s and 1960s Hollywood, Film noir, B movies, and European art-house films. These portrayals encompass clichés and feminine learn more
In her series “Untitled Film Stills,” American visual artist Cindy Sherman adopts diverse stereotypical female personas, drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of 1950s and 1960s Hollywood, Film noir, B movies, and European art-house films. These portrayals encompass clichés and feminine archetypes deeply ingrained in the cultural imagination, such as the office girl, bombshell, girl on learn more

Untitled Film Stills

Cindy Sherman
In 1998, artists acquired the domain name Vaticano.org and launched a website that closely mirrored the official Holy See site. While visually identical, their version contained subtle yet significant alterations hidden within sacred texts. These changes allowed them to satirize learn more
In 1998, artists acquired the domain name Vaticano.org and launched a website that closely mirrored the official Holy See site. While visually identical, their version contained subtle yet significant alterations hidden within sacred texts. These changes allowed them to satirize and critique the identity of the Holy See by promoting ideals such as free love, learn more

Vaticano.org (1998)

Eva & Franco Mattes