I've been meaning to post about The Upset: Young Contemporary Art
for ages now, big beautiful tome that it is. Published by Gestalten and clocking in at a substantial 280+ pages (and climate-neutrally printed, no less), this is one of the best surveys of the lowbrow/ pop-surrealist/ neo-figurative /whatever-you-want-to-call-it art movement out there right now.
Funny to get hung up on semantics so soon, for semantics is one of The Upset's biggest challenges. The editors decided to embark on the admirable if not futile task of breaking the sprawling young art scene up into categories. I don't envy them the assignment for as we know artists hate to be classified, and understandably so. Nonetheless, the book is divided into the following eight sections: "Lowbrow," "Gothic," "Realism," "Illustration," "Character," "Urban Art," "Pattern," and "Expressionists." Phew!
Now while one could argue all day long over whether or not Gary Baseman, say, belongs under "Character" (as he is here) or "Lowbrow" is, to me, beside the point. What is far more important to me is that this is the first time I can recall seeing the Juxtapoz posse demarginalized and put in a gorgeous, big-time, serious-minded book right next to John Currin and Swoon and other institutional favorites. And in my opinion, that's something to be celebrated.
It is also made with the highest quality, and filled with lots of color-drenched examples of each artist's works. My experience when I first flipped through it was one of sheer delight: there were plenty of old favorites getting their due as well as many new discoveries I was excited to make. Gestalten definitely did their homework here, and tried their best to be inclusive and to make connections that haven't been made before. And I for one appreciate the attempt.
In sum, this book is a lovingly made treasure chest stuffed with loads of pretty pictures to look at. And at the end of the day, isn't that what an art book should be?
for ages now, big beautiful tome that it is. Published by Funny to get hung up on semantics so soon, for semantics is one of The Upset's biggest challenges. The editors decided to embark on the admirable if not futile task of breaking the sprawling young art scene up into categories. I don't envy them the assignment for as we know artists hate to be classified, and understandably so. Nonetheless, the book is divided into the following eight sections: "Lowbrow," "Gothic," "Realism," "Illustration," "Character," "Urban Art," "Pattern," and "Expressionists." Phew!
Now while one could argue all day long over whether or not Gary Baseman, say, belongs under "Character" (as he is here) or "Lowbrow" is, to me, beside the point. What is far more important to me is that this is the first time I can recall seeing the Juxtapoz posse demarginalized and put in a gorgeous, big-time, serious-minded book right next to John Currin and Swoon and other institutional favorites. And in my opinion, that's something to be celebrated.
It is also made with the highest quality, and filled with lots of color-drenched examples of each artist's works. My experience when I first flipped through it was one of sheer delight: there were plenty of old favorites getting their due as well as many new discoveries I was excited to make. Gestalten definitely did their homework here, and tried their best to be inclusive and to make connections that haven't been made before. And I for one appreciate the attempt.
In sum, this book is a lovingly made treasure chest stuffed with loads of pretty pictures to look at. And at the end of the day, isn't that what an art book should be?
i agree with everything here. i was super excited about getting it in the mail and i wasn't disappointed. i'm glad to see the 'movement' is getting more serious with such lovely documentation.
xo
Posted by: JLS | March 10, 2009 at 06:21 PM