• An artistic reflection on modern heroes and modes of distinction
• Accompanies the international Ausgezeichnet! Most Excellent! exhibition in Chemnitz, Germany, from November 2015 to February 2016

Heroes - the concept dates back to the dawn of civilization. Where there was society, there were also heroes: they were the bravest, the strongest, the most exemplary and outstanding within their field. In the past, heroes have been commended by medals, trophies, and various other cross-cultural badges of honor. But what constitutes a 'hero' today? And how might we identify these extraordinary individuals, to make them stand apart from the crowd?

Ausgezeichnet! Most Excellent! is a joint project, organized by the Chemnitzer Künstlerbund e. V., the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden (DE), and the Institute for European Studies of the Technische Universität Chemnitz (DE). It aims to cultivate a relationship between contemporary art and contemporary heroes. The exhibit has invited jewelers, sculptors, and a range of other creatives to present the current attitudes of the public towards those deemed heroic, channeling their individual interpretations of the topic into their work.

This book captures the most eye-catching and inventive exhibits in full-color photographs. The heroic subjects vary; some real, some fictional; and the range of mediums in which they are represented exemplifies the diversity of the project. Many of the pieces are accompanied by essays from renowned authors, which reflect on historical, social and cultural contexts, making this title a comprehensive study of the modern hero.

Text in English and German.