Whimsical World of In-Between Spaces : Mak2
A playful look at our hyper-digitized lives and blurred boundaries.
What if our hyper-digitized lives were more real than we thought? What happens when surveillance and consumerism blend into our daily routines? Enter the world of Mak2, a Hong Kong-born artist who seamlessly bridges the tangible and the intangible, creating works that make us question the very nature of existence.
Exhibition view-solo exhibition, Cows With Built-in Wi-Fi, peres projects seoul, photo : tasty morsels art.
Mak2’s latest exhibition, <Cows with Built-In WiFi> invites us into an alternate reality where the mundane meets the surreal. Playful yet thought-provoking, the show uses imagery of cows equipped with WiFi to explore the intersections of hyper-digitization, surveillance, and our increasingly blurred lines between the real and virtual. It’s a world where technology—both absurd and omnipresent—becomes a metaphor for how deeply connected and yet alienated we’ve become. Through vivid paintings and layered digital elements, Mak2 crafts a narrative that feels both disarmingly familiar and delightfully strange. The exhibition challenges viewers to reflect on their own relationships with technology and the ways it shapes their perception of reality.
with her playful yet profound approach, Mak2’s art speaks to a generation straddling two realities: the physical and the digital. Mak2’s art isn’t just visually compelling; it’s conceptually rich. Her works provoke questions about identity, labor, and reality.
In an era where technology mediates how we see and connect, Mak2’s work asks us to pause and think about how much of our world is real and how much is constructed. Using a trio of canvas panels for each work, she creates fragmented, puzzle-like portraits that evoke a sense of disconnection and connection all at once.
Home Sweet Home: Instagram Photobooth 1, 2024, Oil and acrylic on canvas, triptych, 141 x 250 cm, Image courtesy of the artist
Mak2’s other celebrated series, <Home Sweet Home>, flips the idea of a picture-perfect Hong Kong interior on its head. Using The Sims as her canvas, she builds dreamy, virtual spaces and then teams up with others to turn them into lively, co-created artworks. It’s like taking a video game and giving it a brushstroke of reality. Her multi-disciplinary approach reminds us that the contemporary art world isn’t confined to a single medium but thrives in intersections—just as she thrives in the intersections of cultures, technologies, and ideas.
Home Sweet Home: Instagram Photobooth 2, 2024, Oil and acrylic on canvas, triptych, 141 x 250 cm, Image courtesy of the artist
Her practice extends beyond painting. Mak2’s installations and digital works often toy with the boundaries of virtual and real. Her multi-disciplinary approach reminds us that the contemporary art world isn’t confined to a single medium but thrives in intersections—just as she thrives in the intersections of cultures, technologies, and ideas.
exhibition view of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy, 2024, Installation, Acrylic on canvas, fireproof wooden boards, stainless steel, iron, plants, table, chairs, and other materials, 7.5 x 6 x 4 m, Image courtesy of the artist and art basel hong kong.
Mak2 is not just an artist; she’s a storyteller of modern existence. Her works resonate with those who feel caught between worlds, navigating both digital and physical realities. To experience Mak2’s art is to embark on a journey—one that challenges, delights, and ultimately transforms the way we see ourselves and the spaces we inhabit. If you’re seeking art that speaks to the now while whispering about the future, Mak2 is the voice you’ve been waiting for.
Exhibition info.
Cows With Built-in Wi-Fi, Mak2
Location: 37 Yulgok-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, 03062, Seoul, South Korea
Date: November 14th, 2024 – February 15th, 2025
hours: Tue - Sat 10:00am - 18:00pm
