Bringing together the collected writings of British artist, writer and professor Jon Thompson, this volume represents his considerable influence on a generation of artists and art historians.
Thompson began writing in the late 1970s and – unlike much of the previous critical writing on academic art history – his careful research, depth of historical knowledge and insight into an artist’s work and approach was quickly recognised as authoritative, fresh and exciting.
Thompson taught at Goldsmiths College, London, Middlesex University and Jan Van Eyck Academie, The Netherlands, and he wrote influential essays about a wide range of artists including his former students Richard Deacon, Steve McQueen and Mark Wallinger. He also wrote extensively about trends in sculpture, art education and changes in art in general.
JON THOMPSON is a professor emeritus in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Brunswick. He is a former chair of the department and a former president of the faculty union at UNB. He chaired the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the Canadian Association of University Teachers during 1985-1988 and received the James B. Milner Award for contributions to academic freedom in 1993. He chaired the independent committee of inquiry commissioned by CAUT into the dispute involving Dr. Nancy Olivieri, the University of Toronto, the Hospital for Sick Children and Apotex Inc. (1999 2001). He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Harry Crowe Foundation.
Jeremy Akerman is an artist and curator. He edited and co-produced Active Genital and runs short courses in curating at the University of the Arts, St Martins College. He is currently curating Wandering Star: Contemporary British and Korean Landscapes an exhibition of new artwork for a group show in Seoul in 2006.