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. He has a soft spot for Cadillacs but doesn't mind living a frugal, almost hermetic existence. He's fascinated by both the mind and the soul.
This book isn't a page turner (though Bob is an excellent story teller). It's really best savored and carefully considered. But, if you're interested in Irwin, abstract art, art theory, the artistic process, hope to increase your art appreciation, or are just looking for an interesting biography, this is well worth a read.
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Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees: Expanded Edition Paperback – Illustrated, February 2, 2009
by
Lawrence Weschler
(Author)
| Lawrence Weschler (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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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.
- Print length336 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherUniversity of California Press
- Publication dateFebruary 2, 2009
- Dimensions6 x 0.9 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100520256093
- ISBN-13978-0520256095
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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
From the Back Cover
"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
About the Author
Lawrence Weschler's many books include Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder, Vermeer in Bosnia, and Everything That Rises: A Book of Convergences, which won the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.
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Product details
- Publisher : University of California Press; First Edition, Over Thirty Years of Conversations with Robert Irwin (February 2, 2009)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0520256093
- ISBN-13 : 978-0520256095
- Item Weight : 1.5 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.9 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #88,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #45 in Philosophy Aesthetics
- #114 in Artist & Architect Biographies
- #206 in Arts & Photography Criticism
- Customer Reviews:
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4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
100 global ratings
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2012
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49 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2017
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"…Irwin had arrived at his life themes—the explication of presence, an awareness of perception."
Irwin is an all-encompassing artist and human being. One of those few gifted people that through sheer curiosity and intellect is able to beat categories and bridge gaps, making new, much broader connections for us. The book beautifully portrays the rare paradoxes of the work and the man himself, somehow two sides of the same coin. His work, irreducible, ascetic, intentionally limited in its vocabulary; and the man, hyper-articulate and expansive ("…this man who shuns metaphors, and yet is so gifted by them"). Author of artworks avant-garde and obscure for most; Irwin is a pleasure to read as he reasons and works through his questions (I read this book as a 29 year-old, and I have no doubt Irwin would be able to explain his work to a 9 year old), interweaving art with philosophy, science, perception and consciousness as parts of the same grand whole.
Much credit is due to its author Lawrence Weschler, who writes with enviable ease and works through Irwin's life and work narrative with astounding poetry, adding lots to an already great story. The title alone gave me chills every time I grabbed the book. So did the beautiful opening quotes at each chapter. Weschler spent 30 years of his life documenting Irwin, and has dexterously condensed the best of it in 300 pages, greatly managing quotation and commentary.
One of the book's main threads and one of the great preoccupations of Irwin is perception and attention to what's already there. Reading this book, it seemed to me these topics are today more relevant than ever, when we seem in general insatiable and fragmented. The lifelong dedication of Irwin to such questions are not only enlightening to learning artists, like it's my case, but a general reminder to exercise the simple gifts of being human.
Irwin is an all-encompassing artist and human being. One of those few gifted people that through sheer curiosity and intellect is able to beat categories and bridge gaps, making new, much broader connections for us. The book beautifully portrays the rare paradoxes of the work and the man himself, somehow two sides of the same coin. His work, irreducible, ascetic, intentionally limited in its vocabulary; and the man, hyper-articulate and expansive ("…this man who shuns metaphors, and yet is so gifted by them"). Author of artworks avant-garde and obscure for most; Irwin is a pleasure to read as he reasons and works through his questions (I read this book as a 29 year-old, and I have no doubt Irwin would be able to explain his work to a 9 year old), interweaving art with philosophy, science, perception and consciousness as parts of the same grand whole.
Much credit is due to its author Lawrence Weschler, who writes with enviable ease and works through Irwin's life and work narrative with astounding poetry, adding lots to an already great story. The title alone gave me chills every time I grabbed the book. So did the beautiful opening quotes at each chapter. Weschler spent 30 years of his life documenting Irwin, and has dexterously condensed the best of it in 300 pages, greatly managing quotation and commentary.
One of the book's main threads and one of the great preoccupations of Irwin is perception and attention to what's already there. Reading this book, it seemed to me these topics are today more relevant than ever, when we seem in general insatiable and fragmented. The lifelong dedication of Irwin to such questions are not only enlightening to learning artists, like it's my case, but a general reminder to exercise the simple gifts of being human.
6 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021
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Unique content here. If you’re looking for something really different, this book is for you. It is a series of conversations with a lot of SAT words.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2021
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Well written and gives a excellent description of the nature of the artist's work, and by extension, an artistic approach to experience
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2019
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Wonderful book about the artist process
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2019
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The book itself and the content are very high quality. 10/10 recommended reading for all artists.
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2019
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Not what I expected, I’m sure it’s a decent book but doesn’t really give as much information to what I’d like to learn about which is a direct experience and clearer communication with the language in the book so I can better understand the author.
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2015
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Whoever said that this is 'the best book on art ever written' is correct. I have read it three times and will probably continue to do so until I die. For me it was a page by page journey of discovery... about life, art and especially 'seeing'.
12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries
Rich Munn
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful book that I have read many times over
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2016Verified Purchase
A beautiful book that I have read many times over. Anyone with an interest in exploring the relationship between philosophy and creating work as a catalyst will benefit from this book.
One person found this helpful
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David Borja
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great artist, meandering interviews
Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2019Verified Purchase
I lost interest after a while, it seemed like he was repeating the same things over and over again.
Stan the man
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
Reviewed in Canada on October 14, 2017Verified Purchase
Great book if you are interested in Visual art that addresses and questions the nature of visual perception.
J. Hogan
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book I've ever read on the creative pursuit.
Reviewed in Canada on November 15, 2012Verified Purchase
The best book I've ever read on the creative pursuit. Through thirty years of friendship and conversations, Bob Irwin's life and evolution as an artist is shared.
One person found this helpful
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ZT
5.0 out of 5 stars
Großes Buch über einen großen Künstler
Reviewed in Germany on May 25, 2013Verified Purchase
Wer ein bisschen die Welt vergessen machen will, ohne Metaphysik oder sakralen Msytizismus zu bemühen, wendet sich am besten an Irwins Kunst.






