The Sublime

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In today's world, where technology and spectacle often overshadow nature and individuality, the concept of the sublime takes on new significance. This anthology delves into the characteristics of a contemporary sublime, emphasizing the idea that it tests limits until established norms begin to dissolve. It explores how modern artists and theorists engage with themes such as the unpresentable, transcendence, terror, and altered states, offering a philosophical and cultural framework for understanding the sublime in recent art. The book traces the evolution of the term from the writings of Longinus, Burke, and Kant to contemporary interpretations, highlighting its foundational role in Classicism, Romanticism, and the Gothic. Over the past fifty years, the sublime has reemerged in postwar abstraction and critical discussions surrounding human otherness and the interplay between nature and technology. Featured artists include Marina Abramović, Joseph Beuys, and Anish Kapoor, while notable writers such as Jacques Derrida, Julia Kristeva, and Slavoj Žižek contribute to the discourse. This collection is part of the "Documents of Contemporary Art" series, co-published with Whitechapel Gallery, London.