[(Felix Gonzalez-Torres )] [Author: Nancy Spector] [Dec-2008]

by Julie Ault

Published in 2007 230 pages, fully illustrated 6 x 9 1/4 inches In April 2006, the Department of State announced that the late Cuban-born conceptual artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres would represent the United States at the 2007 Venice Biennale. This much sought-after and long-out-of-print volume, reissued by the Guggenheim Museum for the occasion, was originally published to accompany the artist's solo exhibition at the Museum in 1995, one year before his untimely death at the age of 38. Gonzalez-Torres wanted a readable book, not a catalogue per se—something, he said, that one could take to the beach. Pleasure was an integral part of his art (and his life). While he understood that art was innately political and, by necessity, a vehicle for cultural criticism, he believed that social critique and enjoyment were not, by any means, mutually exclusive. For Gonzalez-Torres, beauty was a tool for seduction and a means of contestation. Written by Nancy Spector in close consultation with the artist and reflecting and expanding upon his ideas at the time, Felix Gonzalez-Torres presents a thematic overview of the artist's rich, many-layered practice, including the signature paper stacks, candy spills, light strings and billboards--and demonstrates his continued resonance today.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art History, LGBT

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[oskar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balanced, beautiful and powerful collection of texts and images concerning the artist I have now come to love the most.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book even if you are not familiar with the artist. He was among the many artists in the 1980s and 90s whose work protested the right-wing shift in American politics and the lean towards intellectual laziness by Americans at the time. He was openly gay and much of his work addressed the AIDS crisis. He hoped to reach a wide audience, not just academia, by making his work an experience of some kind, whether visual or interactive. The book also includes academic texts that are vital to his work, or, I'd say, are just vital, period. These include authors such as Brecht, Rilke, Barthes, Duras, Sontag.

The book's editor was a friend, and there is a very loving feel to the book, the need (in grief and loss) to get it right. The artist died in 1996 from AIDS and he had already lost his lover, which he processed in his art which attempted to activate empathy for the communities and individuals who were being ravaged by this disease. This book was given to me by a friend a month after I lost my husband to cancer, another disease characterized by wasting, and it helped me conceptualize both the trauma that I needed to overcome, how I wanted to proceed with the memorial/celebration of life, and how I wanted to actually celebrate his life through art and design.

[Fernanda Armada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me lo recomendó un artista invitado en Virreina y me encontré el libro en la biblioteca de la PGC, es uno de los mejores libros de arte que he leído, Felix Gonzalez Torres tienes mi corazón. Hice una cantidad enorme de notas y cuando iba a la mitad del libro perdí la libreta así que lo empecé de nuevo y por fin tengo las notas, por eso me tomó tanto tiempo acabarlo

[Priyanshu Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

i feel lucky to own this book

[Jenae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon flipping through the pages when I first got this book and just looking at the pictures, I didn't get it, but I really love this artist.

[Roderick Vesper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down, one of the best collections of critical writings on any artist.

[Mark B.]

I can't wait to read Nancy Spector's views into the world of this fascinating and influential artst. He's been a favorite of mine for years.

[Terence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent text, great documentation.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extensive and very beautiful retrospective of one of the best artists of all time.

[Joe Fusaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrie Mae Weems recommended this one. It didn’t disappoint. Nancy Spector does a beautiful and eloquent job of walking us through the major themes and thinking behind the artist’s work.