I think this book is worth reading as a sampled view of today's art world. But I do have to say that while some of the chapters were both illuminating and entertaining -- the chapters about auctions houses and art fairs and the relatively recent shift in the contemporary art market, in particular, as well as the chapter about modern art criticism classes -- others lacked substance: they were more like admiring magazine profiles than chapters in a book that's trying to help popular readers understand the art world. I liked it. The art world is not just about the artist or person who hangs an art piece in their home. There are auctions, biennales that have political undertones, curators, dealers, art magazines, art fairs and prizes. Thornton gives the plebeian a glimpse into it and perspective for those who won't know their Duchamp from their Durant. For instance:1) The importance of the artists' personalities in selling their work2) The different purposes a museum and biennale serves (the latter is supposed to move things forward, bringing instability into the system and not replicate the consensus.)3) What kind of art sells better at auctions (Brown paintings don't sell as well as blue or red ones)4) How timing and relevance are major strongly affect who wins the Turner Prize and so on and so forth.
I think this book is worth reading as a sampled view of today's art world. But I do have to say that while some of the chapters were both illuminating and entertaining -- the chapters about auctions houses and art fairs and the relatively recent shift in the contemporary art market, in particular, as well as the chapter about modern art criticism classes -- others lacked substance: they were more like admiring magazine profiles than chapters in a book that's trying to help popular readers understand the art world.
—averywils0n
"What you work at, what you struggle for, what you have to take command of--that often makes for very good art." Paul Schimmel"To get the most out of your crit, you have to have a mysterious blend of complete commitment to your decisions and total openness to reconsider everything. . . I wanted to do something different. Students make work just because it stands up well in critiques, but outside the classroom it is often inconsequential." Fiona
—woody
i think it will be a very easy to learn how to be good drawer
—sniikkk
