This book provides an in-depth and thematic analysis of socially engaged art in Mainland China, exploring its critical responses to and creative interventions in China's top-down, pro-urban, and profit-oriented socioeconomic transformations. It focuses on the socially conscious practices of eight art professionals who assume the role of artist, critic, curator, educator, cultural entrepreneur, and social activist, among others, as they strive to expose the injustice and inequality many Chinese people have suffered, raise public awareness of pressing social and environmental problems, and invent new ways and infrastructures to support various underprivileged social groups.

Since the mid-1970s, American painter Stanley Whitney has been exploring the formal possibilities of colour within grids of multi-coloured blocks. Matthew Jeffrey Abrams's thoughtful book, the first full monograph on the artist, highlights Whitney's unique and sophisticated understanding of line and colour and his commitment to abstract painting over four decades of consistent practice. Abrams brings together Whitney's personal and professional narratives to weave a chronological analysis of the work and the artist's wider cultural contribution. Born in Philadelphia in 1946, Whitney moved to New York in 1968, and under the guidance of Philip Guston he began to experiment with abstraction, drawn to the basic formal qualities of Abstract Expressionism, the pure chroma of the Color Field movement, and the minimalist approach of such artists as Donald Judd. Steadfastly pursuing abstraction at a time when critical interest was focussed on figurative art and photography, Whitney has not received the critical recognition due to him until late in his career. This book affirms his outstanding achievement.

The trendy and sophisticated Posh: Planner Undated Monthly/Weekly Calendar is perfect for anyone who needs to stay organized, and prefers the traditional, hands-on method of planning. The fashionable Posh styling is complemented by features that planner users want: Includes 12 monthly and 52 weekly pages Reinforced monthly tabs Customizable Habit Trackers Sticker pages to customize your planner A convenient pocket Beautiful, sturdy cover Blue spiral Pink elastic band closure Sections to jot down notes, things to do, big ideas, contacts, celebrations/anniversaries, and more

Hilton Kramer, well known as perhaps the most perceptive, courageous, and influential art critic in America, is also the founder and co-editor (with Roger Kimball) of "The New Criterion." This comprehensive book collects a sizable selection of his early essays and reviews published in "Artforum," "Commentary," "Arts Magazine," "The New York Review of Books," and "The Times," and thus constituted his first complete statement about art and the art world.

The principal focus is on the artists and movements of the last hundred years: the Age of the Avant-Garde that begins in the nineteenth century with Realism and Impressionism. Most of the major artists of this rich period, from Monet and Degas to Jackson Pollock and Claes Oldenburg, are discussed and often drastically revaluated. A brilliant introductory essay traces the rise and fall of the avant-garde as a historical phenomenon, and examines some of the cultural problems which the collapse of the avant-garde poses for the future of art. In addition, there are chapters on art critics, museums, the relation of avant-garde art to radical politics, and on the growth of photography as a fine art.

This collection is not intended to be the last word on one of the greatest as well as one of the most complex periods in the history of the artistic imagination. The essays and reviews gathered here were written in response to particular occasions and for specific deadlines--in the conviction that a start in the arduous task of critical revaluation needed to be made, not because a critical theory prescribed it but because our experience compelled it

Fulfilling a need for an accessible, affordable introduction to a subject of sustained and growing significance in contemporary culture, this volume in the World of Art series redefines contemporary Chinese art in the last forty years since the end of China’s Cultural Revolution, placing it in the context of unprecedented cultural, political and urban transformation. This book offers neither an art historian’s chronological review of Chinese art in post-Mao China, nor does it join the debate of previous terminologies coined by art critics; instead, it provides the most up-to-date understanding of contemporary Chinese art through original research and informed curatorial perspectives on the selected representative work, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, installation, video, performance and participatory art. It is about art, but it is also about China; and thus is not about the past, but also about the present - the truly ‘contemporary’. With 154 illustrations in colour

Organised by the family of Basquiat, the exhibition and accompanying catalogue feature over 200 never before and rarely seen paintings, drawings, ephemera, and artifacts. The artist s contributions to the history of art and his exploration into our multi-faceted culture incorporating music, the Black experience, pop culture, African American sports figures, literature, and other sources are showcased alongside personal reminiscences and firsthand accounts providing unique insight into Basquiat s creative life and his singular voice that propelled the social and cultural narrative that continues to this day. Structured around key periods in his life, from his childhood and formative years, his meteoric rise in the art world and beyond, to his untimely death, the book features in-depth interviews with his surviving family members.

Massin (b. 1925) emerged as one of the key players instrumental in the evolution of graphic arts following World War II. His work in the field is a model of creativity infused with elegance and humour, and has covered editorial design, graphics, poster and logo design; art direction, typography and photography; and publishing, design education and writing. Throughout his career, Massin has developed a diverse and forward-thinking body of work with some of the most prestigious cultural institutions and the post-war literary world. During his 20 years working with the pre-eminent, French publisher, Gallimard, he established and developed their art direction department, launched the Folio series - a popular collection of pocket books - and redesigned the famous logo for the Nouvelle Revue Francaise (New French Review literary publication).Massin is a book sculptor, and has worked on a freelance basis with an extensive range of other renowned publishers, including Hoebeke, Le Club Francais du Livre, Albin Michel, Plon, Le Seuil and Larousse. Collaborating with famous playwrights and writers such as Eugene Ionesco and Raymond Queneau, Massin explored the realm of 'expressive typography', making the text more energetic and exciting with the interplay of words and images. His concepts for Cantatrice Chauve, by Eugene Ionesco (1964 - in English The Bald Soprano, 1965 for the US edition, and The Bald Prima Donna, 1966 for the UK edition) and Exercices de Style, by Raymond Queneau, stand as masterpieces in book design and are commonly used by professors in graphic design classes to illustrate a unique adventure in the history of typography.Before the broken type associated with the design group, Pentagram emerged in the field of graphic arts, Massin was experimenting with letters, fonts and images, producing creative three-dimensional limited-edition covers and a series of imaginative book bindings. He also educated the public with his own publications on the techniques of typography with projects such as L'ABC du Metier and la Mise en Pages. His famous book La lettre de l'image (in English Letter and Image) is a unique anthology of illustrated and expressive letter forms. It was first published in 1970 in five languages, and has been in print ever since.

A deluxe art book showcasing Posuka Demizu's incredible artwork from the hit manga series. A beautiful hardcover art book featuring full-color art, sketches, comments, and a Q&A with Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu about their popular manga series. Featuring Posuka Demizu's incredible artwork, as well as creator commentary and interviews, The Promised Neverland: Art Book World is a beautiful and haunting gaze into the art of one of today's most popular Shonen Jump manga series.

WELGORA: The Equestrian Art of Alan Langford is written by the New Forest artist Alan Langford and illustrated throughout with his wonderful paintings and sketches. 'Welgora' means 'Romani horse fair', and Alan's book reflects his lifelong fascination for horses and the special relationship that they share with people, in particular with the Romanies. This interest grew from his early childhood when he lived with his family at Drapers Copse, Dibden. Alan writes, 'It was there that I met my first Romani gypsies. They were a tough lot, and their toughness became most apparent during the winter of 1962-1963. Everyone on that caravan camp had a hard time that winter. Water froze in the pipes, so there were times when there was no running water. Our beds were hard against the caravan walls and we awoke in blankets damp and cold from condensation.' As a young boy, Alan decided to make friends with some New Forest ponies and they quickly taught him a valuable lesson; 'I had taken some slices of stale bread from the bread bin in our caravan, determined to make friends with these wonderful creatures. I soon discovered a small herd and offered them crumpled slices of the bread from my flattened palm. The ponies were all eager to indulge in my generous offer and very soon all the bread was gone. That was when things started to turn for the worse.' As well as telling his life story, Alan's book has sketches, watercolours and large oil paintings on every page spread. His start in life did not favour a career in art, but after working as a mine worker in Australia, he moved back to work at Fawley Refinery on the edge of the New Forest, and took up studying art at night school. In time he found a full time job as an illustrator and later became a freelance comic strip artist, working on Warlord and 2000 AD. Eventually he took the big step of becoming a self-employed full-time artist. Alan makes use of his wide life experience and the time he has spent practising his craft, to get as close as he can to capturing 'the illusion of movement that compels me to paint'. The power of Alan's paintings will be appreciated by anyone who has seen or taken part in a 'welgora', a New Forest drift, the pony sales at Beaulieu Road Station or the Boxing Day Point to Point. He brings a life and energy to the people and horses so intense that you can almost feel their hot breath and smell the earth. His paintings of longstanding events and new annual traditions, such as 'Danny's Drive', provide a wonderful record of our country's living heritage. Alan regularly exhibits at Godshill, Exbury, Fritham and Burley, and gives talks and demonstrations to community and art groups. He is a member of the Society of Equestrian Artists - true recognition of his journey in art.

This is the first comprehensive English-language study of East Asian art history in a transnational context, and challenges the existing geographic, temporal, and generic paradigms that currently frame the art history of East Asia. This pioneering study proposes an important new framework that focuses on the relationship between China, Japan, and Korea. By reconsidering existing concepts of 'East Asia', and examining the porousness of boundaries in East Asian art history, the study proposes a new model for understanding trans-local artistic production - in particular the mechanics of interactions - at the turn of the 20th century.

For decades the suburbs have been where art happens despite: despite the conformity, the emptiness, the sameness. Time and again, the story is one of gems formed under pressure and that resentment of the suburbs is the key ingredient for creative transcendence. But what if, contrary to that, the suburb has actually been an incubator for distinctly American art, as positively and as surely as in any other cultural hothouse? Mixing personal experience, cultural reportage, and history while rejecting cliches and pieties and these essays stretch across the country in an effort to show that this uniquely American milieu deserves another look.

Contemporary Art and Anthropology takes a new and exciting approach to representational practices within contemporary art and anthropology. Traditionally, the anthropology of art has tended to focus on the interpretation of tribal artifacts but has not considered the impact such art could have on its own ways of making and presenting work. The potential for the contemporary art scene to suggest innovative representational practices has been similarly ignored. This book challenges the reluctance that exists within anthropology to pursue alternative strategies of research, creation and exhibition, and argues that contemporary artists and anthropologists have much to learn from each others' practices. The contributors to this pioneering book consider the work of artists such as Susan Hiller, Francesco Clemente and Rimer Cardillo, and in exploring topics such as the possibility of shared representational values, aesthetics and modernity, and tattooing, they suggest productive new directions for practices in both fields.

Re-envisioning the Contemporary Art Canon: Perspectives in a Global World seeks to dissect and interrogate the nature of the present-day art field, which has experienced dramatic shifts in the past 50 years. In discussions of the canon of art history, the notion of 'inclusiveness', both at the level of rhetoric and as a desired practice is on the rise and gradually replacing talk of 'exclusion', which dominated critiques of the canon up until two decades ago. The art field has dramatically, if insufficiently, changed in the half-century since the first protests and critiques of the exclusion of 'others' from the art canon. With increased globalization and shifting geopolitics, the art field is expanding beyond its Euro-American focus, as is particularly evident in the large-scale international biennales now held all over the globe. Are canons and counter-canons still relevant? Can they be re-envisioned rather than merely revised? Following an introduction that discusses these issues, thirteen newly commissioned essays present case studies of consecration in the contemporary art field, and three commissioned discussions present diverse positions on issues of the canon and consecration processes today. This volume will be of interest to instructors and students of contemporary art, art history, and museum and curatorial studies.

"The Move Beyond Form" focuses on works of art, music, literature, and film since 1960 that convey meaning through a creative undoing of form. Mary Joe Hughes suggests that cultural production of this time period conceived the world not so much as a series of separate entities, including art objects, but as an endless maze of relations and interconnections. By focusing attention on the in-between spaces, these works were able to provide nuance and meaning to a way of thinking that is difficult to demonstrate through language alone. This original study exposes the interrelationships in postmodernism, a perspective that is particularly relevant to contemporary culture, including globalization, electronic technology, and the echo chambers of the media.

A leading figure of the postwar avant-garde, Danish artist Asger Jorn has long been recognized for his founding contributions to the Cobra and Situationist International movements - yet art historical scholarship on Jorn has been sparse, particularly in English. This study corrects that imbalance, offering a synthetic account of the essential phases of this prolific artist's career. It addresses his works in various media alongside his extensive writings and his collaborations with various artists' groups from the 1940s through the mid-1960s. Situating Jorn's work in an international, post-Second World War context, Karen Kurczynski reframes our understanding of the 1950s, away from the Abstract-Expressionist focus on individual expression, toward a more open-ended conception of art as a public engagement with contemporary culture and politics. Kurczynski engages with issues of interest to twenty-first-century artists and scholars, highlighting Jorn's proposition that the sensory address of art and its complex relationship to popular media can have a direct social impact. Perhaps most significantly, this study foregrounds Jorn's assertion that creativity is crucial to subjectivity itself in our increasingly mediated 'Society of the Spectacle.'

This book focuses on the life and artistic activities of Emilio Sanchez (1921-1999) in New York, and Latin America in the 1940s and 1950s. More specifically, the book will consider Sanchez in the wider context of mid-century Cuban artists, and cross-cultural exchange between New York, Cuba, and the Caribbean. The book reflects on why Sanchez chose to be a mobile observer of the American and Caribbean vernacular at a time when such an approach seemed at odds with the mainstream avant-garde. The book includes a foreword by Dr. Ann Koll, former Executive Director/Curator of the Emilio Sanchez Foundation, and an introduction by Dr. Nathan J. Timpano, University of Miami Department of Art and Art History. This book will be of interest to scholars in modern art, Caribbean studies, architectural history, and Latin American and Hispanic studies.

This is the first book on the boundary-pushing practice of the artist, dancer, and educator Suzanne Harris (1940–1979). Harris was a protagonist in key avant-garde projects of the downtown New York City artists’ community in the 1970s (the Anarchitecture group, 112 Greene Street, FOOD, The Natural History of the American Dancer, Heresies); yet her own oeuvre fell into abeyance. Harris’ postminimalist work broke the mold of art categories, (feminist) art practices, art spaces, and the common notion of space. By transcending sculpture and dance, she created ephemeral, site-specific installations, which she conceived as body-oriented choreographic situations. Her approach of sensory awareness led to a holistic philosophy of space, which again is paradigmatic for a materialist approach to (social) space that emerged in the arts at the time.

The Chinese artist Liu Ye's meticulous, colorful canvases convey his love of literature in the first publication dedicated to his paintings of books. The Beijing-based artist Liu Ye is known for his precise, deftly rendered representational paintings. Drawn equally from contemporary culture and old master painting, Liu's wide-ranging visual touchstones include Piet Mondrian, Miffy the Bunny, and Prada advertisements. In this new publication devoted to his book paintings, the artist examines the book as both a physical object and cultural totem. Playing with geometry and perspective, Liu creates extraordinary and disorienting portraits of this most familiar subject. Liu's Book Painting series, begun in 2013, depicts close-up views of books that are turned open to reveal empty pages, an approach that emphasizes the object's form over its content. Rendering books' material structure-endpapers, binding, spine-in sensual detail, these paintings indicate an obsession with the book as an object and a lifelong love of literature. Liu's father was a children's book author who introduced him to Western writers at a young age, fueling his curiosity and imagination. Many of the books in Liu's father's collection were banned in Cultural Revolution-era China and the artist read them secretly throughout his childhood. This formative experience figures in his popular Banned Books series and in his book paintings in general. Published on the occasion of a solo exhibition presented at David Zwirner, New York, in 2020, this catalogue includes new writing by the acclaimed poet Zhu Zhu, who traces the evolution of the book form in Liu's work, as well as an interview with the artist by Hans Ulrich Obrist.

Museum science, museum analysis, museum history, and museum theory all of these composite designations have come into our parlance in recent years. Above all, this expanding terminology underscores the growing scholarly interest in museums. In this new scholarship, a recurring assertion is that as an institution, the museum has largely functioned as a venue for the formation of specifically national identities. This volume, by contrast, highlights the museum as a product of transnational processes of exchange, focusing on the period from ca. 1750 to 1940."