List Price: £35.00 ISBN: 0714839248 Category: ART SURVEYS
UK lowest price: £87.14 US lowest price: $33.77 EU lowest price: EUR 49,90
by Iwona Blazwick
FRESH CREAM is an international whos who of the new cream of the crop artists selected by ten of the worlds most influential art critics.
cream, published by Phaidon Press in 1998, was a sensational cultural event. FRESH CREAM consolidates the biennial status of cream as a frame of reference and an important source for new art for art professionals and newcomers alike. Like its predecessor, but with 10 new world-class contemporary curators each choosing 10 emerging artists, the book presents work by 100 artists and an up-to-the-minute global overview of the contemporary art world for now and for the future. These artists have risen to international acclaimsince the 1990s or, in the opinion of the curators who have selected them, are about to emerge internationally.
Fresh Cream contains the enormous breadth of ideas and forms that exist in contemporary art. The Artists spreads are arranged A-Z, featuring numerous examples of each artists work alongside a brief text from the selecting curator and biographical information about the artist. A conversation between the 10 curators and the commissioing editor gives insight into their selections and key issues in contemporary art. The cultural context in which the artists work-- from philosophy, to fiction, to theory--is presented through recent texts from 10 contemporary writers, one selected by each curator.
Fresh Cream is packaged in an incredible inflated clear plastic pillow.
Inside The Book
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UK Lowest Price: £87.14
US Lowest Price: $33.77
EU Lowest Price: EUR 49,90
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Reviewer: Simon, Auckland, NZ Date Sent: 24/10/2005
Rating
The first thing to catch my interest was, of course, the packaging. This alone drew my attention. However, the inflated wrap and somewhat plain cover do not bespeak the boldness of images within. And that is the main strength of this contemporary art book - the beautifully reproduced, strikingly diverse images - everything from stills of Doug Aitken's video work to sculptures by Takashi Murakami.
The 'conversations' of each curator are equally refreshing in their enigmatic discussion of art history and art practice. For each of the one hundred artists there is a brief synopsis of their work - motivations, intentions and directions - as well as a summary of each artist's curriculum vitae.
The text is brief and accessible and, like the work, is a great source of inspiration. However, it is important to remember that, as with any collection of contemporary art, each work should be weighed up by individual merits (whether its the medium being used or the cultural context). Once again, the text is invaluable as a guide for understanding and appreciating each work.
An inspiring range of work by artists who break boundaries. Enjoy!