The Artist's Body

by Tracey Warr (Editor)

Subject and object of artists' work, the artist's body represents the state of contemporary art and makes a wider comment on the human condition. Bound or beaten, naked or painted, still or spasmodic: the artist lives his or her art publicly in performance or privately in video and photography; these records form the Works section. Amelia Jones's survey examines the most significant works in the context of social history and Tracey Warr's selection of documents combines writings by artists, critics and philosophers.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Photography

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Tracey Warr was born in London, lived in southwest Wales and now lives in southern France. The castles and landscapes of Wales and France inspire her historical fiction. She is the author of six historical novels set in medieval Europe. She draws on old maps, chronicles, poems and objects to create fictional worlds for readers to step into. Sign up for her quarterly newsletter for book offers, events, and articles on writing and publishing. https://justmeandering.substack.com

Her writing awards include an Author’s Foundation Award, a Literature Wales Writer’s Bursary, the Rome Film Festival Book Initiative, and a Santander Research Award.

She has also published books on contemporary art including The Artist's Body and Remote Performances in Nature and Architecture. She is the author of future fiction: Meanda (French edition) and The Water Age and Other Fictions. She has also published the workbooks: The Water Age Art and Writing Workshops and The Water Age Children's Art and Writing Workshops.

Before becoming a full-time writer she worked as a contemporary art curator and art history academic. She teaches on MA Poetics of Imagination at Dartington Arts School, UK.

She is a member of the Society of Authors, the Historical Novel Society, Historical Writers Association.

Reviews

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I use this book all the time. There's a great section of artist manifestoes and critical writing in the back. The whole Themes and Movements series from Phaidon is pretty awesome as a reference set, but I definitely use this one (on performance art) the most.

[Jabeeeeeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's filled with really hard to read art language. It's great if you have time to understand and study groups to read this book with. It is definitely packed with tons of knowledge. A teacher recommended it to learn about performance and it helped for sure! It introduced me to completely different planet. I wish it was easier to read though.

[Kandace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed this book in my newsletter released twice monthly. For access please sign up www.tinyletter.com/kjcfalcon

[Pia Tejeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

fucking amazing.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. I was tickled to find that they had included some of my favorite pieces, such as Opening Six Holes Simultaneously. The book presents a thorough, lucid breakdown of the role of the body in historical and contemporary art practices. Furthermore, the addition of original texts by the artists at the back of the book was an amazing surprise. Mendieta, Beuys, the Viennese Actionists, Sherman... if any of those names get you excited, then you should definitely try out this book.

[ilien · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT!