Anish Kapoor

by Anish Kapoor, Homi K. Bhadha (Contributor), Pier Luigi Tazzi (Contributor)

Anish Kapoor is one of a generation of internationally acclaimed British artists who came to prominence in the 1980s. He has since developed a distinctive body of work in stone, marble, pigment, stainless steel, and plaster, producing sculptures that can provoke intensely spiritual and physical feelings.

This catalog accompanies Kapoor's first major showing in a public gallery in Britain. New pieces created especially for the Hayward Gallery transform the London gallery space, penetrating the walls and floors and giving the impression that the work is growing out of the architecture. Included in the show are a series of monumental stone sculptures weighing up to eight tons each.

Much of Kapoor's recent work explores the concept of the "void." The artist cuts deeply into the stone, sometimes coating the interior surfaces with a rich pigment and transforming the void into a charged, dark space. Kapoor also works with reflective surfaces that appear to engulf the viewer and his surroundings.

Homi Bhabha's essay asks what kind of theory of art and culture emerges from Kapoor's work. Bhabha offers an "ethical" interpretation that explores the way the sculptures force one to ponder not just art, but the role of art in the world. He also comments on how playful Kapoor's work is in its use of color, object, and fantasy, and on how the combination of "deadly seriousness" and play are essential in his sculptures.

"I am really interested in the end, at the end of the process, at the way a stone is not a stone, the way the stone becomes something else, becomes light, becomes a proposition, becomes a lens."—Anish Kapoor

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

120 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I particularly like his reflective sculptures, the disturbing dark blood red ones, as well as the coiled ones that look like rotten meat. It’s also nice to see the many sculptures similar to but of course very different from Cloud Gate.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some Pseuds Corner writing, but it's the gallery of pictures that people will be here for anyway.

[Anushka Aritri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely random find. The cover and sheer size of the book captivated my attention. What can I say, I'm attracted to big books. Especially when it's a sheer red, silky color, not that different from Anish Kapoor's autobiographic book cover.

His work and the diversity of techniques were inspiring to me, since I loved his take on altering space, the subtle scrapes with the absurb, the chaos and order, and his diverse usage of techniques and materials. Definitely a great artist, and hits my sweet spot when it comes to installation art.

I recommend at least a glance at his work, even if you can't bring yourself to read the essays, which were excellent as well.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for writers who tell me about books on their subject's shelves. So a thank you to David Anfam for that. Other essays in the volume were less engaging.

I knew nothing of Kapoor before this volume though I was familiar with Chicago's Millennium Park Cloud Gate. I come away now knowing that 97% of his interior installations are not my cup of tea (I find them creepy and disconcerting, and, no, I don't care if that is what you think art is supposed to do.). I do like the bulk of his exterior pieces and exhibitions -- Could Gate, Taratantara, C Curve, etc.

[Garydtee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent biography of one of the most important artists of our generation. Highly recommended.