Art Now

📘 About This Book

Art Now is a series of interview-based profiles of prominent contemporary visual artists, bringing together the work of Howard Hodgkin, Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Julian Opie, Mark Wallinger, and 2001 Turner Prize winner Martin Creed.Sandy Nairne's introductory essay offers a comprehensive overview of the state of contemporary art, highlighting how the six artists manifest some of the best recent and emerging art in Britain today. Each interview presents a thought-provoking survey of the artist's work and ideas and offers a rare and personal insight into their influences and creative processes. Art Now is an excellent introduction to some of today's most important contemporary artists and provides an accessible way to engage with the pleasures and puzzles of art in the twenty-first century.

📖 Summary

Art Now, published in 2002 by Illuminations, serves as a compelling and accessible gateway into the vibrant and often perplexing world of contemporary visual art. Spanning 134 pages, the book is structured around a series of intimate interview-based profiles that highlight the creative journeys, philosophies, and methodologies of six prominent artists working in Britain. The featured figures include Howard Hodgkin, Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Julian Opie, Mark Wallinger, and Martin Creed, who claimed the prestigious Turner Prize in 2001. Rather than relying solely on dry art history or distant critical analysis, the book brings these creators directly to the reader, allowing their own voices to elucidate the complex ideas driving modern artistic expression. The volume opens with a comprehensive introductory essay by Sandy Nairne. This essay sets the stage by offering a broad, contextual overview of the state of contemporary art at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Nairne skillfully examines how these six distinct practitioners embody the pinnacle of recent and emerging talent in Britain, tracing common threads and highlighting the diverse ways they challenge traditional boundaries. Following the introduction, the core of the book unfolds through its engaging interviews. Each conversation provides a thought-provoking survey of the artist's body of work, delving deep into the specific motivations, challenges, and conceptual frameworks that shape their output. Readers are granted a rare and personal glimpse into the inner workings of the creative process, from the initial spark of an influence to the physical realization of a finished piece. For instance, the profiles explore the rich painterly vocabulary of Howard Hodgkin, the profound spatial explorations of Antony Gormley, and the evocative negative spaces captured by Rachel Whiteread. Additionally, the book captures the clean, graphic lines of Julian Opie, the politically and socially charged statements of Mark Wallinger, and the playful, minimalist interventions of Martin Creed. Together, these interviews demystify what can often feel like an intimidating and elite cultural landscape. Art Now manages to bridge the gap between high conceptual art and the general public, providing an inviting framework to engage with both the pleasures and the puzzles of contemporary visual culture. By focusing on the personal narratives and intellectual underpinnings of these six major figures, the book ultimately celebrates the enduring power of art to provoke, question, and inspire audiences in the modern era.

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