Amalia Ulman: Fotolog, Instagram and the Economy of Looking Good

I sat down with pioneering net artist and filmmaker Amalia Ulman to talk about Fotolog, a now-defunct image sharing platform popular in the early 2000s in Spain and South America. We also speak about her practice and the evolution of online aesthetics. Known for her viral 2014 performance piece "Excellences & Perfections", Ulman reflects on growing up on platforms like Fotlog and LiveJournal, the aesthetics of early internet subcultures, and how the class politics of image-making shaped her art. We explore: – The history of Fotolog – The queer and DIY spirit of photoblogging – The rise of Fotocumbia, a bootleg net archive for working-class youth in South America – Her transition into filmmaking with El Planeta and her newest film Magic Farm Magic Flower opens in New York on April 25th. Get tickets to see Magic Farm: https://mubi.com/en/magicfarm