This is Modern Art, Paperback Art Book

Yes, it's shocking and sensational and makes headlines, but is it art? What happened to beauty and loveliness? Modern works by "Brit Brats" and other explosive artists are explored in this knowing book that combines hard art historical information with refreshingly candid, wonderfully readable reflections on today's dynamic art scene. Each of six chapters becomes a journey, a tour around the world to art galleries, museums, and artists' studios, a trip back and forth in time-from the earliest heroic beginnings of modern art to the circuslike atmosphere of Sensation, the famous/infamous exhibition seen recently by record-breaking museum crowds on both sides of the Atlantic. These gorgeously illustrated rides are by turns smooth, surprising, alarming, but they are always informative and entertaining in answering such essential questions as: Will future generations accept today's art as a vivid expression of how life was really lived during the 1990s? Or will they scratch their heads and wonder how we could have put up with such stuff-how we could have valued it as art? Modern art is controversial, intimidating, and bound to divide any group of people into opposing camps. But how many of us really understand it? With wit, knowledge, and plenty of illustrations, artist and author Matthew Collings opens our eyes to the shock of the new. He whisks us on a journey across the globe to galleries, museums, and studios, all the while offering hard information on major artists and movements as well as answers to the types of questions ordinary befuddled viewers might have: What makes art modern? Can anyone do it? And, whatever happened to beauty? An entertaining and enlightening survey.  Author: Collings, Matthew Brand: Brand: Watson-Guptill Edition: 1st Features: Used Binding: Paperback Number Of Pages: 272 Publisher: Watson-Guptill Release Date: 01-05-2000 Details: Product description Yes, it's shocking and sensational and makes headlines, but is it art? What happened to beauty and loveliness? Modern works by "Brit Brats" and other explosive artists are explored in this knowing book that combines hard art historical information with refreshingly candid, wonderfully readable reflections on today's dynamic art scene. Each of six chapters becomes a journey, a tour around the world to art galleries, museums, and artists' studios, a trip back and forth in time-from the earliest heroic beginnings of modern art to the circuslike atmosphere of Sensation, the famous/infamous exhibition seen recently by record-breaking museum crowds on both sides of the Atlantic. These gorgeously illustrated rides are by turns smooth, surprising, alarming, but they are always informative and entertaining in answering such essential questions as: Will future generations accept today's art as a vivid expression of how life was really lived during the 1990s? Or will they scratch their heads and wonder how we could have put up with such stuff-how we could have valued it as art? About the Author Matthew Collings is a British artist and author whose previous writings published in England include Blimey! From Bohemia to Britpop: the London Art World from Francis Bacon to Damien Hirst and It Hurts: New York Art from Warhol to Now. Package Dimensions: 8.6 x 0.8 x 0.5 inches Languages: English