Synopses & Reviews
Good art should elicit a response of Huh? Wow! as opposed to Wow! Huh?”Ed Ruscha
American artist Ed Ruscha (b. 1937) is a master of creating art that is at once playful and profound. Ruschas inimitable work frequently involves the setting of a single word or phrase against a stained background or monumental landscape. His paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, books, and films were influential in the development of Pop Art, and his stunning artists books continue to inspire up-and-coming artists today.
In this definitive overview of Ruschas career to date, Mary Richards traces the progression of the artists work across five decades. The book also focuses on Ruschas techniques, particularly his delicate drawings, prints using organic materials, and process of making art as documented in his notebooks. With stunning reproductions and new interview material, this thought-provoking book probes the internal logic of Ruschas oeuvre for words, images, and phrases that resurface time and again.
Synopsis
One of the most celebrated and talked about artists of his generation, Turner Prize-winner Antony Gormley (b. 1950) generates lively debate and critical acclaim. His large-scale, iconic projects such as Angel of the North at Gateshead, the 100 cast-iron sculptures he placed on a British beach for Another Place, and the hundreds of small terracotta figurines he asked the public to create for Field have cemented his place among todays leading contemporary artists. A consummate showman, Gormley has sought a broad stage and often collaborative audience for his work over the years. In this survey of the artists work, Martin Caiger-Smith examines Gormleys influences and assesses his relationship to minimalism, arte povera, land and environmental art, and his response to the challenge of engaging with figurative sculpture at the beginning of the twenty-first century. With over 100 color illustrations, this is the perfect introduction to a widely respected contemporary artist.
Synopsis
This engaging survey probes the spellbinding life and work of Louise Bourgeois, whose artworks are among the most memorable of the 20th century, and now the 21st. Bourgeois, born in Paris in 1911, has produced a body of work that is as diverse in its use of materials as it is consistent in its themes. While placing her within key art historical traditions, each chapter focuses on the artists use of different media and techniques, from painting and assemblage to sculpture, paper ephemera, and beyond. Quotations and interviews with the artist provide insight into her motivations and concerns. As Bourgeois approaches her own centenary, still active and creating new work, this accessible introduction is a fitting tribute to the achievement of an astonishing artist.
Synopsis
These books are part of the Tate Publishing series focused on living artists. Generously illustrated, accessible, and affordable, the Modern Artists Series is an essential reference for all those interested in contemporary visual culture.Gabriel Orozco, born in Mexico in 1962, is one of the most influential artists of his generation. Dividing his time among Mexico City, Paris, and New York, his constant traveling has been as much a part of his artistic practice as a lifestyle. His works, often playful and characterized by an ironic humor, range from photographs to collages, sculptures, performance, paintings, and large-scale installation works--including a ball of Plasticine the same weight as the artist, pushed through the streets of New York, gathering the detritus of the urban landscape. Here, Jessica Morgan traces Orozco's artistic development. With more than 100 color illustrations, six key works examined in depth, and a new interview with Orozco, this is the perfect introduction to one of the most stimulating artists at work today.
Synopsis
Tate Modern Artist Series
Synopsis
Born in Bangor, Wales, in 1949, Richard Deacon has been at the forefront of sculpture for the last 35 years and was awarded the Turner Prize in 1987. His work employs curvilinear forms made from a wide range of materials that are traditionally associated with the manufacturing of industrial and domestic products. Language and speech have played an important role in Deaconand#8217;s approach to his work: and#147;I think of making things, structuring, as being an activity not unlike the power of speech, in that it is a means of giving shape . . . a means whereby the world, a chaotic universe, is actually made understandable.and#8221;
About the Author
Martin Caiger-Smith is a curator and critic and the author of Ian McKeever: Four Quartets - Paintings 2001-2007. He has curated many major exhibitions, most recently on Roy Lichtenstein and Dan Flavin, both at the Hayward Gallery, London.