"Robert Irwin, perhaps the most influential of the California artists, moved from his beginnings in abstract expressionism through successive shifts in style and sensibility, into a new aesthetic territory altogether, one where philosophical concepts of perception and the world interact. Weschler has charted the journey with exceptional clarity and cogency. He has also, in the process, provided what seems to me the best running history of postwar West Coast art that I have yet seen."--Calvin Tomkins
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Inside Flap
"Robert Irwin, perhaps the most influential of the California artists, moved from his beginnings in abstract expressionism through successive shifts in style and sensibility, into a new aesthetic territory altogether, one where philosophical concepts of perception and the world interact. Weschler has charted the journey with exceptional clarity and cogency. He has also, in the process, provided what seems to me the best running history of postwar West Coast art that I have yet seen."--Calvin Tomkins
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Wechsler is a terrific biographer for Irwin. For while Irwin is himself a voluble and willing subject, Wechsler's insights into the act of creation and the journey of an artist augment Irwin's own insights in an important and illuminating way.
Having had no prior knowledge of Irwin and never having seen his work before, I still found this a fascinating book about creativity and the act of creation. I give this book as a gift frequently to those people who love and appreciate art and artists in all disciplines (painting, film, theater, photography, sculpture, pottery etc.).
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By James Hughes
Format:Paperback
This book completely ruined me. It so opened my eyes and mind that now I spend untold hours paying attention to the most minute details of my paintings. This book coupled with Josef Albers magnum opus "The Interaction of Color" has completely gutted and replumbed my senses.
The most interesting aspects of this book are the insights into Irwin's process and evolution. You can see his linear trajectory and the almost empirical methodology he used to create his work. Irwin's interdisciplinary approach to art confirmed and extended everything that I've been thinking about for the last couple of years. He helps push the artist away from thinking about paint and towards just plain thinking.
The first two sections of the book are amazing, but I found the third section of the book to be a bit tedious. The problem I find with most art historians is that they try to distill or make broad generalizations about what the artist was *trying* to do. The first two sections stayed away from this and mostly stuck to documentation, interviews, etc. leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. The third section however begins to try and sum up Irwin's contributions which is a horrible mistake. In much the same way that you have to see Irwin's work to grasp an inkling of what is going on, you can't rely on someone else's interpretation of Irwin's life's work. They will inevitably fall far short.
You don't need to know anything of Irwin's work to appreciate this book. Irwin is truly one of the great thinkers of contemporary art. His ideas are what grab you.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By MJR
Format:Paperback
This was an amazing read. Not only did it open my eyes to the concept of abstract art, but it opened my eyes to a different way of thinking. I highly recommend this book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I liked this book the first time I bought it.
This is a replacement for the one I misplaced. Irwin's a great artist. The book could use more examples of his work, but he's reluctant to have people see them in some form other... Read more
Published 2 months ago by KnowHowPro
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Cover Photo
The cover photo of this book was one of 1200 exposures I took in a day of Robert Irwin's installation at Malinda Wiatt's Gallery on Market Street in Venice, CA. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Marble Head
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can you read? This book is for you.
Robert Irwin has lived his life as both a solitary creator and unrelenting seeker to the same consummate degree that only Dante Alighieri, Agnes Martin, Meister Eckhart, Lao Tsu,... Read more
Published on May 18, 2008 by R. Bible
5.0 out of 5 stars
The title alone is worth the price.
If you're an artist, you need this book. Even if you don't like Irwin's work (or never heard of him. Read more
Published on March 16, 2008 by Leslie J. Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Artistic Process for All
*
I am fascinated by the creative process. I am fascinated by physical manifestations born from the spark of an idea. Read more
I am fascinated by the creative process. I am fascinated by physical manifestations born from the spark of an idea. Read more
Published on February 7, 2008 by Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars
It doesn't get any better than this.
This is simply the best book about art I have ever read. Like other reviewers, I can say that this book permanently altered the way I see the world (and art). Read more
Published on September 7, 2005 by Brad Rockwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
still forgetting
I picked up this book in 1984 because it was on a reading list for an Art History class I was taking at Oberlin College. I stayed up all night in the library that night. Read more
Published on August 21, 2005 by Simone Federman
5.0 out of 5 stars
more than exceptional
if you want to understand the mind of a modern conceptual artist and his life...read this....profound,interesting,illuminating,inspiring...read this
Published on November 3, 2003 by bruce loewenthal
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best biographies ever
Robert Irwin is a wonderful artist, and this is a must-read for anybody interested in his work, or in his West Coast brand of conceptualism. Read more
Published on December 13, 2002 by Felix Salmon
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read
Whether you know Irwin's work or not, are an art afficionado or not, this is a great read for the curious and perceptually
aware. Read more
aware. Read more
Published on December 12, 2001
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 25
books:
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10
books
cite this book:
See all 10 books citing this book
- Art and Technology: 2 by Maurice Tuchman on 4 pages
- Mark Rothko (Museum of Modern Art) by Peter Howard Selz on page 49, and page 209
- The Primacy of Perception: And Other Essays on Phenomenological Psychology, the Philosophy of Art, History and Politics by Maurice Merleau-Ponty on page 185, and Back Matter
- Edmund Husserl: Philosopher of Infinite Tasks by Maurice Natanson in Back Matter
- The Twilight Zone: Complete Stories by Rod Serling on page 71
See all 25 books this book cites
- Uncommon Genius: How Great Ideas are Born by Denise Shekerjian in Back Matter
- Drawing the Landscape, 2nd Edition by Chip Sullivan in Back Matter
- Organization at the Limit: Lessons from the Columbia Disaster by William Starbuck on page 177
- A Miracle, A Universe: Settling Accounts with Torturers by Lawrence Weschler in Front Matter
- Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology by Lawrence Weschler in Front Matter
See all 10 books citing this book
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