Paul McCarthy creates sculptures figuring animal/vegetable/human hybrids, Disney-esque installations and slapstick performances in weird evocations of a national subconscious. The psycho-sexual desires and anxieties induced by the media and the built environment of contemporary America emerge in his collisions of plastic prosthetics and simulated body fluids. These have been variously deployed: through live actions, often documented on video, and more recently in outsized and artificial rural environments. Ralph Rugoff surveys McCarthy's installations and sculptures since the early-1970s, while Kristine Stiles, an expert on performance, talks with the artist about his performance work. Giacinto Di Pietrantonio focuses on McCarthy's video/installation, "Pinocchio Pipehouse Householddilemma". The artist has juxtaposed a text by Jean-Paul Sartre with a screenplay from the TV serial "Bonanza", and the final section, the artist's writings, contains notes for performances and videos. The book is part of a series of studies of important artists of the late-20th century. Each title offers a comprehensive survey of the artist's work, providing analyses and multiple perspectives on contemporary art and its inspiration.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
If we are to see art as a mirror of society, the work of Paul McCarthy reflects all that is perverted, violent, and deranged in this world. Characterized by crawling around on hands and knees in specially built environments (e.g., Santa's workshop) and dousing his body in ketchup and mayonnaise, his performances repulse, but he remains one of the most talked-about artists today. Published in conjunction with a retrospective exhibition at New York's New Museum of Contemporary Art, this catalog documents over 30 years of McCarthy's art, including performance, installation, video, and photographic work. One of the strengths of this publication is the critical analysis provided by three highly regarded scholars. In comparison, the 1996 monograph from Phaidon Press's "Contemporary Artist" series of the same title offers performance scripts, interviews with the artist, and samples of his own writing. Both publications offer a plethora of color and black-and-white reproductions. Recommended for libraries with good contemporary art collections. Krista Ivy, Bryn Mawr Coll. Lib., PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Paul McCarthy was born in 1945 in Salt Lake City, Utah and he currently lives and works in Los Angeles. He studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and the University of Southern California. McCarthy's artwork was brought to public attention in the 1970s with his performance pieces and works in film. Since then he has experimented with sculpture, installation and inflatable objects.
Dan Cameron is director of visual arts at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. From 1995 to 2007 he was senior curator at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. Cameron has organized exhibitions in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Russia, Austria, Sweden and Mexico. He was artistic director for the 8th Istanbul Biennial (2003) and was one of the curators of the Taipei Biennial in Taiwan (2006). Cameron has written extensively on contemporary art in various publications, including Artforum, Arts Magazine and Parkett and has contributed to numerous museum catalogues.
Anthony Vidler is Dean of the Cooper Union School of Architecture and former professor and chairman of the Department of Art History and Architecture at the University of California, L.A. He is widely known for his essays on issues at the heart of the most pressing debates surrounding architecture today. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Dan Cameron is director of visual arts at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. From 1995 to 2007 he was senior curator at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. Cameron has organized exhibitions in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Russia, Austria, Sweden and Mexico. He was artistic director for the 8th Istanbul Biennial (2003) and was one of the curators of the Taipei Biennial in Taiwan (2006). Cameron has written extensively on contemporary art in various publications, including Artforum, Arts Magazine and Parkett and has contributed to numerous museum catalogues.
Anthony Vidler is Dean of the Cooper Union School of Architecture and former professor and chairman of the Department of Art History and Architecture at the University of California, L.A. He is widely known for his essays on issues at the heart of the most pressing debates surrounding architecture today. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really good book,
By
This review is from: Paul McCarthy (Paperback)
I was a bit hesitant about buying this book. Sometimes you get unpleasant surprises with books about art and artists (not too good writing, not too good images, not enough of any of those), but luckily this was not the case with this one. It's a good looking book, yes, a very handsome edition, loads of photos, some sketches, and good documentation. Essays are good too, I just wish there were a bit more (what's the word?)you know, more in number and longer... but anyway, a fantastic book to look at. THE DOWNSIDE: I wish there was more writing, and the softbound cover doesn't feel really safe (I'm scared of opening it too hard and separating the cover from the pages), but it's ok if you are careful (it's not like this book will get anywhere near children - the nightmares they'd get!). Oh yeah, and somebody should release a DVD or CD-ROM with the performances! My got, that'd be nice!PS: If you're thinking of buying this for it's "shock value" you won't be dissapointed. Plenty of scary, gory, creepy stuff...
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must have for contemporary art lovers,
This review is from: Paul Mccarthy (Contemporary Artists (Phaidon)) (Paperback)
This is a great book if you like art. I became fascinated with P Mccarthy 11 tears ago. This book features art from the 60's to the 90's. Plus it has a really great interview. I can't get enough on Paul Mccarthy his art has literally made me rethink everything I knew about art. You'll love him or hate him. Either way you'll walk away with something.
1 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
buy book,
By A Customer
This review is from: Paul Mccarthy (Contemporary Artists (Phaidon)) (Paperback)
everyone should buy this book - everyone
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