Customer Reviews

Drawing Now: Eight Propositions

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

None of the decisions in this show were very difficult to make. All of the current stars in the drawing/painting world are present (John Currin, Kara Walker, Elizabeth Peyton, Kai Atoff, etc.) and the work they've offered is mediocre. That is not to say the work is bad by normal standards, they are the best of the contemporary scene for a reason: they're good. But, looking at each artist's best work, none of this is it. The essays are kind of hokey and embarrassing (in a bad way). The book is worth buying if you want to seem like you're "with it" when it comes to contemporary art, or if you are a student (such as myself, forever) and need it for research purposes to aid your own studio practice.

The catalogue that accompanies the Drawing Now exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art is just as well thought and carefully crafted. The show is divided into eight themes that bring a solid foundation to a wide scope of works. Each section in the catalogue begins with an insightful essay further developing the rich ideas behind the show. The beautiful illustrations and large format of the book further compliment the important artworks included in the exhibition.

Drawing Now does a good job of critically displaying the work of many contemporary artists. Unlike Vitamin D, this book does not take a shotgun approach to viewing contemporary art, and as a result is more satisfying to behold. Not all the artists represented have great work, but you get quality reproductions of it, and worthwhile commentary on each of the thematic "propositions" in the book. Worth buying if you have the money. Worth renewing your library's copy if you don't.

I use this text in my Graduate Drawing class. There is a broad range of contemporary drawing included in the book, which gives the reader a snapshot of the variety of drawing being produced at the moment. The text in each chapter is brief, but complements the work, and contextualizes the drawings. I especially enjoy the fact that there are artists in the book whose work I like, and several whose work I don't really care for.

will we see a drawing show of this scope. MoMA Queens has done itself proud with this show, and my friends who are totally into drawing made a special effort to see it after I sent them this spectacular record of the show itself. (Too bad the museum is such a mess, at least for the time being!)

The book I ordered was delivered in 2 days, I think, and the book was in great condition. No complaints.