Chris Burden Bücher

Seit den 1950er Jahren haben Künstler immer stärker ihren Körper als Gegenstand und Material für das schöpferische Schaffen eingesetzt; so entstanden neue Ausdrucksformen wie Body Art, Happenings, Performance und Life Art Auf über 250 Bildern vereint dieser Band erstmalig die weitgehend unerforschte Geschichte dieser oft extremen und kontroversen Kunstwerke

Burden has a love-hate relationship with the machine: Suspended from the ceiling of the gallery or presented in glorious isolation, the toy-like machine becomes an object of fear and worship, however ironically, a mysterious idol to be propitiated and venerated, even if it no longer works. Thus art makes the machine benign by turning into a strange toy. It masters the machine in a playful, Machiavellian act of homage to it. Burden implicitly sets the cunning of the artist against the engineer who masterminded the machine, implying that the artist can magically undo the human damage the latter unwittingly did with his machine.

With a mix of irreverence and sincerity, artists John Baldessari and Meg Cranston here tackle nothing less than the question of God. Acting as curators, they have invited 100 artists to respond to one of art's most enduring picturing the divine. The artists selected are those whose work the curators know and admire, those who possess the sense of humor and audacity necessary for such a project, or artists who are "likely to surprise." The works in this exhibition explore many different themes, including miracles, divine intervention, baptism, heaven, martyrdom, and the search for enlightenment. Included is one work by each of the 100 artists--primarily drawings, photographs, and paintings, along with a few sculptures and single-channel videos--some of them made in response to the curators' call for participation. Represented artists include Reverend Ethan Acres, Eleanor Antin, Chris Burden, Sam Durant, Jimmie Durham, Nicole Eisenman, Katharina Fritsch, Liam Gillick, Jack Goldstein, Scott Grieger, Rebecca Horn, Christian Jankowski, Mike Kelley, Mary Kelly, Martin Kippenberger, Louise Lawler, Roy Lichtenstein, Rita McBride, Paul McCarthy, Catherine Opie, Tony Oursler, Jorge Pardo, Raymond Pettibon, Paul Pfeiffer, Richard Prince, Rob Pruitt & Jonathan Horowitz, Gerhard Richter, Susan Rothenberg, Ed Ruscha, Gary Simmons, Lawrence Weiner, James Welling and Franz West.

Focusing on Chris Burden's groundbreaking performance art, this collection reissues six rare publications that document his innovative practices from the 1970s to the early 2000s. It includes detailed accounts of extreme performances, such as being locked in a locker for five days and being shot, alongside explorations of his artistic processes and social commentary. The works highlight Burden's unique storytelling across various media, showcasing his relentless spirit and commitment to pushing boundaries, making them accessible to a contemporary audience.

"Tourism, the largest industry in the world, is a significant force in contemporary society, with far-reaching economic, cultural, and geopolitical importance. Rather than seeking to represent tourism or travel itself, Universal Experience: Art, Life, and the Tourist's Eye considers art, history, and the social construction of places, spaces, and identities from the heightened perception of the tourist. Functioning as a guide book, a reader, and a souvenir, this lavish catalogue of the exhibition presents over 275 illustrations of thought-provoking artworks as icons and as tourist sites for exploration. A wide-ranging anthology of texts presents divergent routes and avenues through which to explore the symbols and cultural conventions created, deciphered, and disseminated by an increasingly mobile, international group of artists."--Jacket