A Personal Memoir: Fragments for an Autobiography

by Antoni Tàpies, Josep Miquel Sobrer (Translator)

A Personal Fragments for an Autobiography integrates the memoirs of Antoni Tàpies, beginning in pre–civil war Barcelona and extending to Francoist Madrid, existentialist Paris, and New York in the 1950s, with historical images from diverse sources, including the family and the artist's archives. Tàpies's reflections on his interactions with such prominent cultural figures as Picasso, Miró, and Duchamp, on his approach to modernity and the avant-garde, and on the historical events of his lifetime―from his birth in 1923 to the 1970s―provide insights into the inner sources and development of his art. Highlighting the close ties between his writings and his visual work, this volume includes a generous selection of both color and black-and-white images that trace the unfolding of Tàpies's artistic language from the 1940s to the present. Complete Writings, Volume II, Collected Essays, will be published in 2011.

Genres: Art, Biography

430 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2009

About the author

Antoni Tàpies i Puig (Barcelona, 13 de desembre de 1923 - Barcelona, 6 de febrer de 2012) fou un pintor, escultor i teòric de l'art català. Fou un dels principals exponents a escala mundial de l'informalisme, i és considerat com un dels artistes catalans més destacats del segle xx. L'obra de l'artista barceloní gaudeix d'un centre d'estudi i conservació a la Fundació Antoni Tàpies de Barcelona.

Reviews

[Juan Fuentes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo encontré de segunda mano por un euro y, admirador como soy de la obra de Tàpies, me lo llevé para casa. No tenía grandes expectativas, pero ha resultado ser una joyita. Una autobiografía desde su niñez hasta los años setenta que es cuando escribió el libro.

[Monty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read for me, Tapies having been a favorite painter of mine since I discovered him during my college days. Also, reading it so soon after visiting Barcelona, I had a clear recollection of many of the streets and landmarks mentioned. On the other hand, there is a lot of discussion of historical figures, events, and political movements with which I am not familiar at all, and so there were several sections that didn't mean as much to me as they would to someone more well-versed in those matters. Even so, I enjoyed learning about this person whose work I have admired for so long, but whose life I knew little about.

That said, I'm not sure this is a book for just anyone. I can't imagine it would be of interest to anyone who wasn't already a fan of Tapies's work.