Customer Reviews

The Hydrogen Jukebox: Selected Writings of Peter Schjeldahl, 1978-1990 (Lannan)

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In his introduction, Rob. Storr describes Schjeldahl as fashion's 'watchful scribe'. It's a fine tribute and sets out what distinguishes Schjeldahl as a particular type of poet/ critic in the romantic tradition of Baudelaire and Whitman. So don't pick him up anticipating reams of jargon and esoteric art analysis, or structuralst theorizing. He speaks smart, 'for the fan in the stands'. I never knew Schjeldahl until he came to visit and travel to Uluru with me in 1986. It was a totally engaging 3 or 4 days and I became a fan of his enthusiasms as they then appeared, mostly in Art in America. I scrambled in our library for back issues to catch up on this infectious and radiating intelligence. At the time, he was very big on Kiefer, and in fact, suggested I fly south to Adelaide and catch the German show with its crop of current maestros, then current at the gellery of S. Australia, curated by the indefatigable, Ron Radford. Fortunately, most of his best writing til 1990 is packed between these covers, and his piece on Kiefer is among them. It's his gift and passion that even people I neither know much about, or do not care for, can be resurrected under Peter's gaze. I don't share his enthusiasms for Schnabel, Warhol, Nauman, Salle, Polke or Koons for instance. But Schjeldahl is generous with his praise and perspicacious with his more cautious notes, never dismissive or superior. This last quality is demonstrated in his defence of Rothko from the bullying Bobby Hughes. His caning of Wyeth's 'Helga' series pops the balloon on Helga hype and delivers uncharacteristically cool truths about his art being completed by reproduction and of Wyeth's place as'mass reassurer and avatar of the Art myth'. To read Schjeldahl is to be refreshed. He's still at it and enjoying writing for the New York Times. A recent review of Hillary Spurling's great volumes on Matisse will surely make it into his next collection.

This is a collection of reviews and essays written by the Oscar Wilde of art critics. Known for his witty and engaging column at the Village Voice, and his more recent post at the New Yorker, Schjeldahl has also contributed pieces to the New York Times, and most of the major art magazines. From the abstract expressionists to the simulationists, this book focuses mainly on the artists and movements of the last half of the 20th century.

I loved this book. It was informative, intelligently written, and highly entertaining. I found Schjeldahl to be a rare critic who is genuinely excited by the work he sees and admiring of the many artists he writes about. He may not always like the work, but he always gives it a fair and honest review. In turn, he opened up my mind to the possibilities of what art is and can be.