When this book first appeared in 1982, it introduced readers to Robert Irwin, the Los Angeles artist "who one day got hooked on his own curiosity and decided to live it." Now expanded to include six additional chapters and twenty-four pages of color plates, Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees chronicles three decades of conversation between Lawrence Weschler and light and space master Irwin. It surveys many of Irwin's site-conditioned projects--in particular the Central Gardens at the Getty Museum (the subject of an epic battle with the site's principal architect, Richard Meier) and the design that transformed an abandoned Hudson Valley factory into Dia's new Beacon campus--enhancing what many had already considered the best book ever on an artist.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"A magnetic (now expanded) biography."--San Diego Union-Tribune
"Seeing is Forgetting may not be just the best biography of an artist out there but also one of the best books on contemporary art-making."--Frieze
"'Seeing Is Forgetting' and 'True to Life' are not only about the artists talking to Weschler or, through him, to each other; they're about the artists talking to themselves."--Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Seeing is Forgetting may not be just the best biography of an artist out there but also one of the best books on contemporary art-making."--Frieze
"'Seeing Is Forgetting' and 'True to Life' are not only about the artists talking to Weschler or, through him, to each other; they're about the artists talking to themselves."--Los Angeles Times Book Review
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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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Michael
Format:Paperback
This book is an extremely well written and understandable account of the life and work of one of the greatest artist of our time. "Seeing is Forgetting" brings with it an understanding of the processes and theory involved in creating art that is entirely your own. This book includes Art history in the making and should not be missed.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Gary Seelig
Format:Paperback
I first read this book in 1983 and now again in December 2010 - and it stands as the best artist biography I have ever read. Irwin begins with customizing cars in the 1940s and proceeds seamlessly through realism, abstraction, minimalism, and on to the Getty Gardens and Dia Beacon - but really the book is not about "isms" - it is about presence and perception - a life altering read.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Mel Pal
Format:Paperback
I plan to expand this review later, but I just wanted to say that this book has improved the way I use my visual perception. We receive so much information from all of our senses that it is difficult to give the attention required to maximize the value of our experiences. This book encouraged me to be more attentive to and perceptive of what I see as Peter Stankovich has helped me to be more attentive to what I hear. Peter's book is about one on one conversations while this is about viewing inanimate objects, but they are both about being involved in the present with the experience. Both books help you enrich your life as it occurs.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By MonsoonKing
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read on ton of books of art history and theory, and this one stands out as one of the best.
Through thirty years of friendship and discussions, Weschler traces Bob Irwin's career, from buffing car dashboards in high school to creating monumental gardens and installations in his old age. The benefit of this extended coverage is that we get to see how Irwin develops in every stage of his career, often as these developments are happening. We discover how relationships, environment, the art world, and philosophy influence Irwin's evolution and how each element manifests itself in his work.
Irwin typically deals with abstract, minimalist, and formalist art which is often considered "difficult", even by open minded art viewers. In these interviews, he extensively details his mental and physical process, offering an unparalleled look at just what goes into these works. He recounts staring at a canvas for weeks, trying to decide precisely where a line should go and what impact it will have on the finished work. Even if you don't find yourself mesmerized by the next Agnes Martin you come across after reading this book, you'll at least gain an appreciation of why some people find it interesting and what might have been going through the mind of the artist when he/she created it.
Part of what this makes this biography so compelling is that Irwin is an incredibly appealing character. Most successful artists are pigeonholed as shameless self-promoters or tortured geniuses. Irwin comes across as humble, brilliant, open minded, sincere, and indefatigably dedicated to his work. He seems like an art world version of Richard Feynman; the kind of curious guy you'd love to explore ideas with over a beer. He can talk about betting the ponies and Wittgenstein.... Read more ›
Through thirty years of friendship and discussions, Weschler traces Bob Irwin's career, from buffing car dashboards in high school to creating monumental gardens and installations in his old age. The benefit of this extended coverage is that we get to see how Irwin develops in every stage of his career, often as these developments are happening. We discover how relationships, environment, the art world, and philosophy influence Irwin's evolution and how each element manifests itself in his work.
Irwin typically deals with abstract, minimalist, and formalist art which is often considered "difficult", even by open minded art viewers. In these interviews, he extensively details his mental and physical process, offering an unparalleled look at just what goes into these works. He recounts staring at a canvas for weeks, trying to decide precisely where a line should go and what impact it will have on the finished work. Even if you don't find yourself mesmerized by the next Agnes Martin you come across after reading this book, you'll at least gain an appreciation of why some people find it interesting and what might have been going through the mind of the artist when he/she created it.
Part of what this makes this biography so compelling is that Irwin is an incredibly appealing character. Most successful artists are pigeonholed as shameless self-promoters or tortured geniuses. Irwin comes across as humble, brilliant, open minded, sincere, and indefatigably dedicated to his work. He seems like an art world version of Richard Feynman; the kind of curious guy you'd love to explore ideas with over a beer. He can talk about betting the ponies and Wittgenstein.... Read more ›
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have been working as an artist for about 5 or 6 years. Now, pursuing my Masters degree and therefore in some kind of professional hiatus, I have stumbled upon the fact of how important it is to be calm, to contemplate, to take the time necessary to mature concepts and ideas that before were immersed into a whirlpool of different stimuli. This book is a great inspiration on how to deal with that, on how to approach contemplation as an artist without loosing patience... I do definitely appreciate it and find the concepts explored to be highly relevant nowadays as they were before.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A truly fantastic book. Wonderful insights into a truly creative thinker. An inspiration to all artists and a must read.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Clay Crosby
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A great read, really giving good insight into the life, work, and thought of a contemporary artist. good good good
2 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I personally loved reading the thoughts and expressions of Robert Irwin. He is one of my favorite and most inspiring artists. The evolution of his work and life experiences are very inspiring.
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