Art: A Sex Book

by John Waters, Bruce Hainley

Cult film director John Waters and art critic and curator Bruce Hainley offer a provocative and personal interpretation of the theme of sex and sexuality in art. They have selected a wide range of works, from graphic depictions of the body to abstract images suggesting or inviting different ideas of the erotic, and have arranged them into "rooms" just as in a real exhibition. Andy Warhol, Larry Clark, Richard Kern, Sarah Lucas, Cy Twombly, Lily van der Stokker, Jeff Burton, Karen Kilimnik and Paul McCarthy are just some of the 70 well known artists in the book, which includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography and video. The authors talk about their selection in a frank and elucidating conversation, presented in three parts. They consider many of the issues thrown up by the art and discuss - with humour and seriousness alike - how it reflects attitudes towards sex and the body.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Film, Sexuality, Criticism

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2003

About the author

John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, writer, personality, visual artist and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films: Pink Flamingos and Hairspray. He is recognizable by his pencil-thin moustache.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is brilliant. the best book as exhibition that i've come across. the accompanying conversation is quick, but the formal connections are extremely generous. great selections of work, good variety in materials, in casual v labored works, etc. i was in a deep rut of hating art, and i was having an awful personal morning when i happened upon this book. it utterly altered my day for the better. i laughed out loud, i was stunned, i questioned my own reflexes. it isn't overstatement to say it restored my faith that day. john waters is a fucking treasure.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The structure of this volume is a bit puzzling, but the content is stellar in every way. Waters and Hainley are the ultimate editors, and play off one another's tastes and interpretations cleverly. What's valuable about this book isn't so much the works included, but the mix of those that are.

An interesting, thoughtful little book Frued would have loved, with a swell overview of some intriguing works. Particularly enjoyed the thoughts on Peter Wüthrich and Chris Burden.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun in John Water fashion.

[Aaron the Pink Donut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a great book but the art is far more conceptual and less edgy then I thought it would be since it is John waters. Worth checking out. The text is pretty good.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book totally transformed my views on modern art. John Waters explains so well what it is all about that now I kind of get it. Not completely, but I'm willing to give it a chance now.

[Tenzin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopping

[Sean Kottke · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the disappointment of Waters’ fiction writing, I wanted to read something to redeem my fandom. This did the trick: a survey of contemporary art and artists through the lens of eroticism (not erotica, Waters insists, though some of the works are more explicitly sexual in nature). I remember chaperoning a trip to Houston’s Contemporary Art Museum with AP Art History and Humanities students my first year of teaching. I don’t recall if any of these artists’ works were in the exhibition we saw then, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I can’t believe I didn’t get banned from taking students on field trips after that.

[Steven Kinzler · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Waters in conversations about art. Need I say anything more?

[babadyke · Rating 3 out of 5]

not much of a contemporary art person so i'm happy this gave me some interesting new perspectives

[charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting collection of the erotic and humorous side of sex and human nature, I especially enjoyed the works of Keith Boadwee included in this book.

[Jennifer Royan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subversive? If you think it might be, you probably wouldn't pick it up. I loved learning about artists I love, hate, and don't yet know.

It would be interesting for anyone not in the States to comment on its relativeness outside in the bigger world.

[Jennie · Rating 1 out of 5]

One pic has a man holding up his legs with Molly Ringwald with the "O" circling a certain part of his anatomy in permanent marker. I find art to be very subjective and this particular point of view juvenile and one dimensional. Nothing new or memorable here for me. Uninteresting, bland, no recommendation.

[Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the bomb. John Waters and art critic Bruce Hainley talk about some ten artists they like over several chapters. inspiring!

[Edith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great idea - pick a couple dozen artists you love, a theme, and discuss them with a friend in print. Makes for a wonderful little exhibition.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good "food for thought" about art that I might otherwise just flip past; some good stories and conversation from the two contributing authors- worth looking into.

[Situationist 95 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun To Look at Once or twice, No Real Substance

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I don't Have a Coffe Table.