A richly illustrated, up-to-the-minute overview of new approaches in drawing, set in the context of recent developments of other forms of contemporary art. This book explores the variety of ways in which contemporary artists from around the world have come to approach drawing as the primary, sometimes the sole, element of their practice, and one which is autonomous: an end in itself rather than a means to an end in another, more substantial medium. In an era of advanced technologies where image production has accelerated – potentially beyond the capacity of human attention – what values can be attributed to the slow, deliberate process of drawing by hand? The artworks featured in this volume are not confined to traditional tools – one can also draw on a computer, tablet or smartphone, and examples of digital drawing are incorporated into the narrative not as a separate category but as one medium among many. Grouped thematically by specific approaches, including abstraction and figuration, nature and artifice, social observation and critique, with essays and feature spreads for each section, this selection of international artists of diverse backgrounds and experience includes not only recognizable names such as Michael Armitage, Camille Henrot, Robert Longo, Amy Sillman and Kara Walker, but also a host of emerging talents. Beautifully presented in a visually appealing and tactile format with the feel of an artist’s portfolio, this is an inspiring overview of the best drawing practice today.

Using a restrained palette of pencil and colored pencil on paper, Greek artist Christiana Soulou (born 1961) draws figures that embody a ceaseless formation and fragmentation of the self. Soulou's wide range of characters includes the mysterious figures of the Tarot, the fantastical beasts of Borges' "Book of Imaginary Beings" and a series of awkward ballet dancers. The richness of Soulou's imagery and storytelling is at the core of her exploration of identity. Part of the "2000 Words" series, conceived and commissioned by Massimiliano Gioni, and published by the Deste Foundation for Contemporary Art, "2000 Words: Christiana Soulou" presents the entirety of the artist's works in the Dakis Joannou Collection and includes an essay by Claire Gilman examining the tension between the material and immaterial in Soulou's work.