Understand Contemporary Art: A Teach Yourself Guide
Understand Contemporary Art: A Teach Yourself Guide

Author: Grant Pooke

Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Published: 2011-04-26

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780071636919

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Unravel the contemporary art scene Whether you love it or loathe it, contemporary art is bound to provoke a reaction. Is it all about shock and sensation? Does it have to be either profound or trivial? Is the contemporary art market over-inflated and ready to burst or is it still soaring? Teach Yourself Contemporary Art delves deep into the contemporary art scene, asking all of these questions and more. It begins by putting contemporary art into context, considering its pre-history and development and moves on to explore the different forms of contemporary art including installation, land and environment art and video, film and digital media. The key personalities, recurrent themes and controversial competitions are all discussed in detail, as is the changing role of museums and galleries and the contemporary art market. Whether you want to hold your own at the snootiest of arty parties or need to study art as part of a course, this book is an objective guide that uncovers all.

Understand Art History
Understand Art History

Author: Grant Pooke

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Published: 2011-03-01

Total Pages: 218

ISBN-13: 9781444104974

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Is this the right book for me? Are you interested in art? Do you want to develop your own opinions? Would you like to get more out of your visits to galleries and exhibitions? Art History: Teach Yourself is a comprehensive and unpretentious guide that will ensure you gain a solid grounding in this fascinating subject. It begins by asking the fundamental question, 'what exactly is art?' before delving into the main historical approaches and interpretations, such as formalism, postmodernism and context. The different art periods, styles and genres are all considered in detail and illustrated with well-known examples, as are painting techniques and the way in which art is presented in museums and galleries. So, whether you are preparing for a course in art history or just want to gain confidence in your own opinions, this is the book for you. Understand Art History includes: Chapter 1: What is art and what is art history? Art: different things in different times and places Artistic status What is a 'good' painting Chapter 2: Judging by appearances Formalism: What it means Formalism and art history Chapter 3: Looking beyond the picture frame Art in context The life of the artist: biography Representing gender . Chapter 4: Art today: contemporary ways of looking Where to start? Postmodernism and art histories Seeing difference: non-Western art Chapter 5: Art in museums and galleries: spectacle and display The art museum experience The art exhibition and the 'blockbuster' show Museums and exhibitions: other meanings Chapter 6: Categorizing the history of art Art periods and styles Painting materials and techniques Finding out more: what to look for Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features: Not got much time? One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started. Author insights Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience. Test yourself Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress. Extend your knowledge Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of the subject. Five things to remember Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts. Try this Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

The Artist's Way
The Artist's Way

Author: Julia Cameron

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2002-03-04

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13: 1101156880

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"With its gentle affirmations, inspirational quotes, fill-in-the-blank lists and tasks — write yourself a thank-you letter, describe yourself at 80, for example — The Artist’s Way proposes an egalitarian view of creativity: Everyone’s got it."—The New York Times "Morning Pages have become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential"—Vogue Over four million copies sold! Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.

What is Contemporary Art?
What is Contemporary Art?

Author: Jacky Klein

Publisher: The Museum of Modern Art

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 9780870708091

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Presents an illustrated look at contemporary art, examining the work of over seventy artists from around the world, the themes they explore, the diverse materials they use, and the techniques they employ.

Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza
Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza

Author: Nancy G. Heller

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2019-12-31

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 0691207305

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The first time she made a pizza from scratch, art historian Nancy Heller made the observation that led her to write this entertaining guide to contemporary art. Comparing modern art not only to pizzas but also to traditional and children's art, Heller shows us how we can refine analytical tools we already possess to understand and enjoy even the most unfamiliar paintings and sculptures. How is a painting like a pizza? Both depend on visual balance for much of their overall appeal and, though both can be judged by a set of established standards, pizzas and paintings must ultimately be evaluated in terms of individual taste. By using such commonsense examples and making unexpected connections, this book helps even the most skeptical viewers feel comfortable around contemporary art and see aspects of it they would otherwise miss. Heller discusses how nontraditional works of art are made--and thus how to talk about their composition and formal elements. She also considers why such art is made and what it "means." At the same time, Heller reassures those of us who have felt uncomfortable around avant-garde art that we don't have to like all--or even any--of it. Yet, if we can relax, we can use the aesthetic awareness developed in everyday life to analyze almost any painting, sculpture, or installation. Heller also gives concise answers to the eight questions she is most frequently asked about contemporary art--from how to tell when an abstract painting is right side up to which works of art belong in a museum. This book is for anyone who agrees with art critic Clement Greenberg that "All profoundly original art looks ugly at first." It's also for anyone who disagrees. It is for anyone who wants to get more out of a museum or gallery visit and would like to be able to say something more than just "yes" or "no" when asked if they like an artist's work.

The Tate Guide to Modern Art Terms
The Tate Guide to Modern Art Terms

Author: Simon Wilson

Publisher: Tate

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13:

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"How many times have you read the caption next to a work of art or a review of a contemporary art exhibition and found yourself none the wiser? For many, the language in which modern art is described can be as mystifying as the art itself. This comprehensive, pocket-sized guide holds the answers. Each term, from the dawn of Impressionism to the latest digital development, is defined with clarity and precision, putting themes, movements, media and art practices at the reader's fingertips."--BOOK JACKET.

Learning to Look
Learning to Look

Author: Joshua C. Taylor

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2014-12-10

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13: 022615890X

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Sometimes seeing is more difficult for the student of art than believing. Taylor, in a book that has sold more than 300,000 copies since its original publication in 1957, has helped two generations of art students "learn to look." This handy guide to the visual arts is designed to provide a comprehensive view of art, moving from the analytic study of specific works to a consideration of broad principles and technical matters. Forty-four carefully selected illustrations afford an excellent sampling of the wide range of experience awaiting the explorer. The second edition of Learning to Look includes a new chapter on twentieth-century art. Taylor's thoughtful discussion of pure forms and our responses to them gives the reader a few useful starting points for looking at art that does not reproduce nature and for understanding the distance between contemporary figurative art and reality.

New York Contemporary Art Galleries
New York Contemporary Art Galleries

Author: Renée Phillips

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 310

ISBN-13:

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More than 1000 detailed profiles of NYC galleries, museums, alternative exhibition spaces, non-profit organizations, corporate art consultants and artists' studios.

Who's Afraid of Contemporary Art?
Who's Afraid of Contemporary Art?

Author: Kyung An

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Published: 2017-03-07

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 0500773807

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A smart and playful introduction to the often-mystifying world of contemporary art What is contemporary art? What makes it contemporary? What is it for? And why is it so expensive? From museums and the art market to biennales and the next big thing, Who’s Afraid of Contemporary Art? offers concise and pointed insights into today’s art scene, decoding “Artspeak," explaining what curators do, demystifying conceptual art, exploring emerging art markets, and more. In this easy-to-navigate A to Z guide, the authors’ playful explanations draw on key artworks, artists, and events from around the globe, including how the lights going on and off won the Turner Prize, what makes the likes of Marina Abramovic and Ai Weiwei such great artists, and why Kanye West would trade his Grammys to be one. Packed with behind-the-scenes information and completely free of jargon, Who’s Afraid of Contemporary Art? is the perfect gallery companion and the go to guide for when the next big thing leaves you stumped.

What Are You Looking At?
What Are You Looking At?

Author: Will Gompertz

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2012-10-25

Total Pages: 459

ISBN-13: 1101561130

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For skeptics, art lovers, and the millions of us who visit art galleries every year—and are confused—What Are You Looking At? by former director of London’s Tate Gallery Will Gompertz is a wonderfully lively, accessible narrative history of Modern Art, from Impressionism to the present day. What is modern art? Who started it? Why do we either love it or loathe it? And why is it such big money? Join BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz on a dazzling tour that will change the way you look at modern art forever. From Monet's water lilies to Van Gogh's sunflowers, from Warhol's soup cans to Hirst's pickled shark, hear the stories behind the masterpieces, meet the artists as they really were, and discover the real point of modern art. You will learn: not all conceptual art is bollocks; Picasso is king (but Cézanne is better); Pollock is no drip; Dali painted with his moustache; a urinal changed the course of art; why your 5-year-old really couldn't do it. Refreshing, irreverent and always straightforward, What Are You Looking At? cuts through the pretentious art speak and asks all the basic questions that you were too afraid to ask. Your next trip to the art gallery is going to be a little less intimidating and a lot more interesting. With his offbeat humor, down-to-earth storytelling, and flair for odd details that spark insights, Will Gompertz is the perfect tour guide for modern art. His book doesn’t tell us if a work of art is good; it gives us the knowledge to decide for ourselves.