Conceptual Art in Britain, 1964–1979

by Andrew Wilson (editor)

Featuring some of the most exciting artworks of the 20th century, this is the first book to explore the rich history of conceptual art in Britain during a key period in innovation, from the mid-1960s to the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979. While the early works of this period challenged art’s traditional boundaries, by the mid-1970s, focus had shifted away from issues of art and individual experience toward questions of politics and identity, using the languages of documentary, propaganda, and advertising in the service of action. The result was a radical moment in British art that ignited new developments in various media: text, sculpture, photography, film, and print. With previously unpublished archival material and essays by key experts, this book reveals the origins—and legacy—of Britain’s conceptual art movement.

Genres: Art

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2016

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Reviews

[yuefei]

[Auckland Council Libraries]

Wow this took ages. A relatively in-depth overview of British Conceptual Art (with relations to parallel and often intertwined activities in the US and other parts of Europe) that begins with the anti-modernism of practitioners like Art & Language, Victor Burgin and John Latham and ending with the critique of this anti-modernist movement, a development that emphasises the sociopolitical role of artistic practice (largely driven by the feminist movement, e.g. Mary Kelly and Susan Hiller).

The essays at the back (especially the first five) were honestly more insightful and engaging than the main body here, which was often a bit too dry. But also can't deny that it provided plenty of context for the latter complementary essays to be more fruitful.

[fei]

[Auckland Libraries]