Across the Art/Life Divide

Performance, Subjectivity, and Social Practice in Contemporary Art

By: Martin Patrick

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eBook | 1 February 2018 | Edition Number 1

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256 Pages

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Martin Patrick explores the ways in which contemporary artists across media continue to reinvent art that straddles both public and private spheres. Examining the impact of various art movements on notions of performance, authorship, and identity, Across the Art/Life Divide argues that the most defining feature of contemporary art is the ongoing interest of artists in the problematic relationship between art and life. Looking at under-examined forms, such as stand-up comedy and sketch shows, alongside more traditional artistic media, he situates the work of a wide range of contemporary artists to ask: To what extent are artists presenting themselves? And does the portrayal of the "self" in art necessarily constitute authenticity? By dissecting the meta-conditions and contexts surrounding the production of art, Across the Art/Life Divide examines how ordinary, everyday life is transformed into art.

Industry Reviews

'In this inspired consideration of 20th and 21st century international avant-gardes, Martin Patrick reveals secret histories, tendencies, and subtexts that defy the weary exchangeability of institutional contemporary art. Looking beyond the usual suspects, Patrick charts the charged space between art and life, and channels the artists and art works that describe the indescribable.'