33 Artists in 3 Acts - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1847089070 ISBN 13: 9781847089076

Publisher: Granta Books, 1726

Synopsis

Is being an artist a radical form of entrepreneurship or a vocational calling like the priesthood? Is it an extension of philosophy or an offshoot of entertainment? In three richly interlinked but distinct 'acts' - Politics, Kinship and Craft - Sarah Thornton compares and contrasts answers to the simple but profound question: what is an artist? 33 Artists in 3 Acts draws on hundreds of personal encounters with the world's most important artists, to ask what it means to be making artworks in different parts of the world today. With Thornton as expert guide and trusted insider, we have unprecedented access to the lives of the artists, from late-night Skype chats with Ai Weiwei to taxi rides with Maurizio Cattelan on the way to and from the show that announces his death. We join Thornton as she rummages through artists' studios, homes and solo shows, inquiring about everything from their bank accounts to their bedrooms. The result is a series of cinematic experiences, which juxtapose artists in thought-provoking ways, and build up narratives that end with epiphanies. 33 Artists in 3 Acts is a generational touchstone, a powerful triptych and gripping anti-monograph about truth, integrity, credibility and recognition. Essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary art, this masterful act of storytelling will also delight any reader seeking to understand creative lives.

About this title

About the Author

SARAH THORNTON is the author of the international hit Seven Days in the Art World (Granta, 2008). She has been the chief writer on contemporary art for the Economist and a contributor to publications such as the Guardian, The Art Newspaper and the New Yorker. She has a BA in Art History and a PhD in Sociology. She lives in London.

Review

“Another art world page turner.”
- Globe and Mail

“A masterful picture of 33 artists, keenly bringing details of their lives to the surface with a skilled hand...With effortless sophistication, Thornton takes readers on a journey across the globe and into the homes and minds of contemporary artists. In the process, she banishes cynicism about modern art, revealing it to be a volatile, healthy enterprise still deeply engaged with the world.”
- Publishers Weekly, Starred review

“Will startle even art-world insiders.”
- San Francisco Chronicle

“[T]he Jane Goodall of the art world”
- Washington Post

“How can one be a real artist in the real world? Thornton sets off to find out, meeting and debating with many of the most important artists around the globe. Credibility, integrity, legitimacy, recognition and truth in art are all tackled here. While the basis of the book is contemporary art, the themes are of universal interest.”
- The Bookseller

“Engaging and ingenious.”
- The New Statesman

“A vivid and entertaining read...Thornton meets some interesting artists and her direction can be playful. Her interviews with Andrea Fraser stand out, as do all her meetings with Ai Weiwei.”
- The Guardian

“Thornton nails some wonderful portraits of the people that, well, do wonderful portraits. These characters are no longer creators of icons but icons themselves and Thornton is in the front pew―but taking notes, not praying at all.”
- Monocle

“Inspiring―as unique as each of the artists featured.”
- Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times

“A readable, approachable introduction to the rock stars of [contemporary art] and their work.”
- Kevin O’Kelly, Christian Science Monitor

About this edition

• Publisher: Granta Books
• Publication date: 1726
• ISBN 10: 1847089070
• ISBN 13: 9781847089076
• Binding: Paperback