Colourful worlds with a critical message

Distressingly sweet worlds, whimsical narratives, and tipping moments: in the works of artist Rachel Maclean, we encounter cute babies and faceless mothers or deepfake Hollywood stars in an action-packed battle for “reality.” In her immersive installations, the artist takes us to alternative universes in which sweetness turns to horror and visual perception is shaken.

This catalogue is published on the occasion of the exhibitions if it looks like a duck … at Kunstpalais Erlangen (2023) and Mama Mimi Duck at Kunsthalle Giessen (2024) and brings them to life in a stunning way. It is also the first monograph presenting Rachel Maclean's works since the early 2020s, thus providing fresh insights into her sophisticated artistic game with our perception of reality.

Text by: Hettie Judah, Dominic Paterson, Heinz Peter Schwerfel