Rachel Maclean's Deepfake "DUCK" | ARTISTS' PROJECTS

“If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and acts like a duck, then it is, most probably, a duck.” Of course, when it comes to the work of Scottish artist Rachel Maclean, deception is the delightful dish du jour, the crux upon which her green-screened worlds are so often built. One of the highlights of 2024’s International Film Festival Rotterdam was undoubtedly Maclean’s hilarious and bewildering video installation, DUCK, which features every James Bond throughout the franchise’s long history, as well as Marilyn Monroe-all played by Maclean herself, via the wonders of deepfake technology. In this exclusive excerpt for Artforum, we’re offered a tantalizing glimpse of the ways in which Maclean illuminates the potentialities of deepfake as a new medium alongisde this interview with Maclean by Oskar Oprey.
-Travis Jeppesen

[@lukemaher2000]

Well, at least I know what it'd be like if David Lynch directed a Bond film.

[@ArchieAndy27]

This is utterly bizarre, I can't look away! Morbidly curious to see the whole film, to see how Lazenby and Dalton turn out. Love how Sir Roger is the consummate gentleman, he has the best line - "it's my reality and unfortunately, you're just living in it" - if only that were true, but how do we know for sure 😅

[@imranbecks]

Ok that was mildly disturbing.

[@There_Will_Be_Bond]

How revealing.

[@TyroneDaviesWELSHMAN]

Feels like a fever dream! Great work!

[@realmattjc]

The most accurate for me was Mr Brosnan. Great job though 👏

[@UnclePhil2k]

That kinda felt like a clip from "The Prisoner." And it was AWESOME!!! Where can one watch the whole film? 😊

[@jamesdavies215]

I love this. Obsessed with rewatching how freaky it is

[@miktemk]

I would watch a whole 2h film of Roger Moore outclassing everyone else... wait!!! there are 7 actual films with exactly that! :)

[@davidmagalhaes2182]

Roger should have played more bad guys. He was always great.

[@WhiteRabbitDave]

Why are there only four Bonds in this clip?

[@Ellidyre]

Because they're the 4 best Bonds

[@MrCyberpunk76]

@@Ellidyre Dalton and Lazenby, my two favs are missing

[@Ellidyre]

@@MrCyberpunk76 Dalton and Lazenby are your favorites?

[@MrCyberpunk76]

@@Ellidyre Definitely ! Craig is just after

[@PixarPins]

The others were killed by an army of Alien Mallards impersonating Marilyn Monroe of course!

[@brianleo1313]

🎉

[@gasparghent9383]

This was excellent fun. Bravo! 👏

[@davidstewart4825]

wish the lip sync was better but a brilliant effort..ty..hope to see more ...

[@jopjop5533]

It's like a mad dream you might have....brilliant...

[@freemeliberty]

I already want to know what happens next.

[@PixarPins]

I wonder what the watch on Brosnan’s wrist that Connery is eying is capable of…

[@jefferywilson456]

❤

[@oliverdenker8267]

Brilliant.

[@asn5079]

Pretty naive and predictable with very awkward amateur deepfakes. OK, like all that kind of movies themselves. But thx for ur effort!

[@ConradSpoke]

This was 37x better than Quantum of Solace, and Quantum of Solace than 37x better.

[@ChetJustin]

How do you watch the whole thing?

[@cragkeeper2655]

Needs work