Hyper Real charts the evolution of hyperreal art into the twenty-first century through the work of key figures in its early development in the1960s and 1970s to today's artists who are exploring new mediums and technologies that progress the genre's compelling narratives and tropes. From eerily lifelike figures to out-of-this-world virtual reality, these works provokes reflection, fascination, fear and joy and chronicle the cycles of life and our constant need for connection, posing the fundamental age-old question of figurative sculpture: 'what makes us human?' A question that takes on even greater impetus in our radically changing world. Richly illustrated with uncanny sculptures and cutting-edge digital art, Hyper Real includes two fascinating essays of the genre by Otto Letze, the founder and Director of the Institute of Cultural Exchange in Tübingen, Germany, and Jaklyn Babington, Senior Curator, Contemporary Arts Practice-Global, at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, Australia. Featuring the work of early American pioneers, celebrated Australian artists and international masters: AES+F, Zharko Basheski, Stephen Birch, Cao Fei, Maurizio Cattelan, Berlinde De Bruyckere, John DeAndrea, Keith Edmier, Carole A Feuerman, Daniel Firman, Shaun Gladwell, Robert Gober, Duane Hanson, Sam Jinks, Allen Jones, Peter Land, Tony Matelli, Paul McCarthy, Ron Mueck, Jan Nelson, Tony Oursler, Evan Penny, Patricia Piccinini, Marc Quinn, Mel Ramos, Ugo Rondinone, Jamie Salmon, George Segal, Marc Sijan, Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, Ronnie Van Hout.
