Customer Reviews

Luc Tuymans (Contemporary Artists (Phaidon))

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This book on Luc Tuymans is an excellent introduction to the strange world of this internationally reknowned Belgian Painter. What is it that stirs up the bizarre fascination of cognoscenti for this artist? At the very least, it is attributable to the deeply psychological expression that this artist conjures from his sometimes murky palatte, as well as his subject matter. He addresses these ideas in relation to living as an artist in this modern world and a Freudian psychoanalysis of history that seems all to prevalent in this information age; including, everything from the New York art world as evidenced in his painting "Heritage", which alludes to Jasper Johns flag painting and the Holocaust in paintings like "Our New Quarters". This artist also takes these issues to subjects like the body, which through his investigation and isolation of its various parts he formulates the queerness that follows a banal rendition of the functions of that space. In addtion, as a psychoanalytical historian this artist attempts to fuse the mundanity of the conscious world with the fanatsy of the world of dream, which always seems to be off center, and could be related to the work of Alex Katz and Robert Gober. At any rate, this book provides an excellent insight into the world created by Luc Tuymans, and comes highly recommneded by art lovers and aficianados alike.

The illustrations in the book are very fine. The interview with the artist gives more insight into his work than any of the writings in the book including his own. There is a good deal of critical double talk and bullshit, but biographical information, and useful details seem to slip through as well.

Luc Tuymans, born 1958, is a Belgian artist who remains one of the most influential artists of the day. To the casual observer his paintings may seem unfinished, mere sketches for something more thoroughly thought through. But that is his signature - a very bland, nearly monochromatic palette that captures faces, figurative works, interiors of contemporary homes or buildings and makes them seem simultaneously vague as though viewed through veils of memory or curtains of time and immediate - and demanding our attention to the detail at times left unpainted.

This book may not be the definitive volume on his career to date, but it does supply information from the artist's words that is sadly lacking in other publications. He offers insights as to his choices of subject matter without denying that he often works with images that suggest if not illustrate violence. His images often are reproductions of the faces of well known people - such as Condoleeza Rice and Lumumba - capturing the aspect of the various 'models' he chooses to present the unspoken words they may be forming. He is unafraid to make painterly comments that are politically charged - a factor that helps make his art so poignant in today's world. He is a painter to observe and this fine book gives a solid introduction to his creativity. Grady Harp, January 11

This book about Luc Tuymans has wonderful images and good text. It was a great compliment to a show I saw in SF.

good quality
moderate in its charges
its price in Guangzhou academy of fine arts is rmb 375,in amazon just rmb 265,make me happy