Jeff Wall (Contemporary Artists (Phaidon)) [Paperback]

Thierry Duve (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2002 | Series: Contemporary Artists (Phaidon)

Jeff Wall adopts the 19th-century poet Baudelaire's famous description of one of his painter contemporaries as a "painter of modern life" to describe his own very different work: huge transparencies mounted onto light boxes which diffuse a brilliant glow of white light evenly through his photographs of contemporary urban scenes and "constructed" social situations. Jeff Wall is foremost among the pioneering artists who since the late 1960s have brought photography to the forefront of contemporary art. His construced images employ the latest sophisticated technology in the creation of compelling tableaux which are evocative of subjects ranging from Hollywood cinema to 19th-century history painting. When exhibited in their glowing light boxes they evoke both the seduction of the cinema screen and the physical presence of minimalist sculptures such as Dan Flavin's fluorescent light installations or Donald Judd's metal and perspex wall reliefs. All of these elements - traditional figurative painting, cinema, Minimalism, Conceptual art, documentary photography - are consciously evoked and explored in Wall's work. Associated closely since the late 1960s with Conceptual artists such as Dan Graham, with whom he collaborated on "The Children's Pavilion" (1988-93), Wall has engaged at a sophisticated level with theories of representation and its social dimensions both as an artist and as a theoretical writer on contemporary art and culture. Wall's own writings and the Survey essay by one of Europe's most distinguished contemporary art critics, Thierry de Duve, are complemented in this revised expanded edition by an update essay from the French art critic and historian of photography Jean-Francois Chevrier, who examines Wall's work from 1995 to the present.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

There are a number of living artists whose reputations are solid but whose work is sadly unknown outside the art world. Fortunately, the "Contemporary Artists" series will go far to correct that. Affordable, thoroughly illustrated in color, these books provide maximum exposure for the price. Although this is enough to make the series worthy of consideration, it is important to point out what makes it unique. Each volume includes writings by the artists whenever possible. Of the two considered here, painter/printmaker Spero and photographer Wall, the latter is the more verbally prolific. In addition, a piece of literature was preselected by the artist to use as a tool for discussion. Put this together with essays by curators and critics, interviews from throughout the artist's career, and a handy chronology and you get an interesting, overall view of the artist. This multifaceted approach is rewarding not only for its comprehensive view of each individual artist but also because it allows each book in the series to vary according to its subject's strengths. A work in progress?these are the fifth and sixth titles, respectively?this series is a practical buy for most libraries but is especially recommended for academic and large public libraries.?Susan M. Olcott, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jeff Wall lives and works in Vancouver, where he is a Professor at the University of British Columbia. His writings, published in a number of journals and exhibition catalogues, explore socio-political and psychological meaning within modern pictorial media and avant-garde strategies. Artist's Residence: Vancouver, Canada

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press; 2 Rev Exp edition (April 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714839515
• ISBN-13: 978-0714839516
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,969,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate publication in contamporary art and culture, January 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jeff Wall (Contemporary Artists (Phaidon)) (Paperback)

A great book about a great artist, in a great series of "Phaidon" dedicated to contemporary art. Not easy to read, but worth it. The debate about Jeff Wall's art (in which wall himself is an importent participent) encompasses many fundamental questions and notions regarding new art history, post-modernism and society at the end of this century. A must for contemporary art lovers.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Companion to the Exhibit, July 9, 2007

By 

K. Tanaka (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jeff Wall (Hardcover)

If you are interested in Jeff Wall's work this is an essential accompaniment to the 2007 retrospective exhibit being shown in NY, Chicago, and SF. It has a great deal of interesting background information that attendees will not otherwise receive.

So if you're a Jeff Wall fan see the exhibit if at all possible. No book can replicate the experience of seeing these enormous transparencies. But even if you can't see the exhibit get this accompanying catalog.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Seen Better Works by Jeff Wall in Other Publications, June 19, 2008

By 

Randy Magnus - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jeff Wall (Hardcover)

The images shown in this publication is not his best work.
I was very disappointed by the selection of work. The essay is way too long, trying to justify the images.
Much of the work is dark and gloomy.
I remember images of Jeff's being more whimsical and interesting,
but few are shown in this publication.
I would consider some of his earlier publications if I was you.