What do you think?
Rate this book
Tunga
Tunga (1952-2016) was one of the most original and influential artists of the late 20th century. This dense, experimental book, with 400 illustrations and two essays, covers 40 years of his intense life as an artist, born in Brazil, who made sculpture, drawings, performances and texts, taking on the role of an instigator of a situation he wished to investigate. The book begins with “TUNGA, 'The mind’s profoundest caverns shine with splendour'”, a narrative written by the art historian Catherine Lampert, based on many conversations with Tunga, in various locations, 2003-14. Her text is interspersed with visual references - postcards, photographs, book illustrations, and later in the volume the working drawings that accompanied their dialogue. Lampert was introduced to Tunga in 1988 by the well-known writer Guy Brett and this book reprints his own essay, 'Everything simultaneously present' [begun in 1989, revised in 1997]. The artist’s testimony ‘Muse: Poetic Glue, 2012 Art in America completes this section.
The second part of the book, begins with a repertoire, or as Tunga put it, ‘a universe of strange signs that I regroup’, followed by an inventory of artworks organised in six chapters, a kind of map for the labyrinth of ideas and works. There are 71 ‘entries’ on specific works, each with images, many never reproduced before, technical data, and an exhibition history as well as associated myths introduced by the artist. The entries were a collaboration between Lampert, Tunga, his assistant Fernando Sant’Anna and the organiser of the book Tatiana Grinberg as well as the editorial involvement of Juliet Attwater.
It was Tunga’s wish that this monograph should be widely available; and his vision was respected and intensified when the renowned the editor Charles Cosac, a friend of the artist, became involved the publication in 2008. Thus, the result, designed by Sônia Barrato, ultimately became a kind of hand-book to the thoughts, voice and imagery of Tunga who believed in collaboration (and did so with musicians, dancers, filmmakers and other artists throughout his life).
The second part of the book, begins with a repertoire, or as Tunga put it, ‘a universe of strange signs that I regroup’, followed by an inventory of artworks organised in six chapters, a kind of map for the labyrinth of ideas and works. There are 71 ‘entries’ on specific works, each with images, many never reproduced before, technical data, and an exhibition history as well as associated myths introduced by the artist. The entries were a collaboration between Lampert, Tunga, his assistant Fernando Sant’Anna and the organiser of the book Tatiana Grinberg as well as the editorial involvement of Juliet Attwater.
It was Tunga’s wish that this monograph should be widely available; and his vision was respected and intensified when the renowned the editor Charles Cosac, a friend of the artist, became involved the publication in 2008. Thus, the result, designed by Sônia Barrato, ultimately became a kind of hand-book to the thoughts, voice and imagery of Tunga who believed in collaboration (and did so with musicians, dancers, filmmakers and other artists throughout his life).
372 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2020
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.