French-Algerian artist Kader Attia's immersive installations reflect on identity and historical development: the biggest illusion of the human mind is probably the one on which Man has built himself: the idea that he invents something, when all he does is repair. This publication charts the development of Attia's work leading up to his new site-specific commission at the Whitechapel Gallery through an in-depth interview with curator Magnus af Petersens, plus essays by critic Kim West and curator Emily Butler. Acting as an extension of Attia's intriguing library and cabinet of artefacts and books, this publication presents an overview of the artist's extraordinary vision and reflections on society's endless quest for enlightenment in the age of globalization.