Conceptual Art A&I (Art and Ideas) [Paperback]

Tony Godfrey (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Covering the entire 20th century, this text traces the roots of conceptual art to movements such as Dada, explaining its importance in the 1960s and 1970s and showing that it is still alive today. In 1917 Marcel Duchamp signed the name R. Mutt on a urinal and placed it in a gallery. Even the most strident modernists refused to accept this object as a work of art, however, Duchamp stuck to his guns, claiming that he had chosen the urinal as an art object so it must be art. Such arguments over the nature of art still continue today. Tony Godfrey sees the archetypal work of Conceptual Art as a question and a proposition joined together: "What is Art? This could be Art." This text seeks to demystify the subject by placing the art in its social and political context.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (November 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714833886
• ISBN-13: 978-0714833880
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #230,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #53 in

  Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Conceptual

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever!, July 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Conceptual Art A&I (Art and Ideas) (Paperback)

This book is a superb introduction to not just Conceptual Art, but the way of thinking and looking at Art in general. It provides the reader with background information and contextualizes the artworks and the artists included. Covers the timeline from Dada to the recent yBa (Young British Artists) and describes the evolution of Art in this century. It was easy to read and understand. An inspiration!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone interested in conceptual art., September 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Conceptual Art A&I (Art and Ideas) (Paperback)

A great history of conceptual art. It was easy to read and understand.

A few topics I found interesting were "Duchamp and Data", "Varieties of Conceptual Art", "Women Conceptual Artists" and "Political and Institutional Contexts."

A great book for anyone who is interested in conceptual art.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thorough, engaging look at the conceptual art movement, June 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Conceptual Art A&I (Art and Ideas) (Paperback)

If you want to know anything about the conceptual art movement, chances are better than not that the information can be found here. This is an extremely detailed, sharply analytical book loaded with photographs. I found it a very enjoyable read, learning about the creativity of so many of the conceptual artists.