Oliver Laric

Oliver Laric is an Austrian contemporary artist, born in 1981, whose work focuses on the themes of replication, authenticity, and the fluid nature of images in both digital culture and art history. Known for his use of multimedia, including video, sculpture, and 3D technology, Laric investigates how images are continuously transformed, reproduced, and circulated in a world increasingly shaped by the internet. His work challenges traditional notions of originality and explores the tension between physical and digital realities.Laric gained international recognition with his video work Versions (2010), where he examines the concept of image duplication throughout history, from classical sculptures to internet memes. The piece reflects Laric's interest in the way images mutate and evolve, whether through historical reinterpretations or digital remix culture. By juxtaposing old and new media, Laric highlights the porous boundaries between original and copy, suggesting that all images are part of a broader, ever-shifting visual landscape.Sculpture also plays a significant role in Laric’s practice, often created using cutting-edge 3D printing technology. In works like Sun Tzu Janus (2018), Laric reproduces historical sculptures but alters them in subtle ways, such as merging faces or manipulating forms. These sculptures question the integrity of historical artifacts and how they are mediated in the digital age, emphasizing the ways in which technology redefines our understanding of authenticity and permanence in art.Laric's practice often blurs the lines between high and low culture, combining references from classical art, internet culture, animation, and 3D modeling. This interdisciplinary approach allows him to explore the fluidity of visual language and the cultural implications of image replication. His work emphasizes the idea that images are not fixed objects but rather dynamic entities that continuously evolve and gain new meanings over time.Oliver Laric has exhibited his work at prominent international institutions, including the New Museum in New York, the Vienna Secession, and the Hayward Gallery in London. His innovative use of digital tools and his intellectual engagement with themes of reproduction, authorship, and authenticity have made him a leading voice in contemporary art. By exploring how images function in both the physical and virtual worlds, Laric's work raises important questions about the role of technology in shaping our visual and cultural experiences.