On the twenty-fifth anniversary of its original publication, the best-selling "ArtSpeak" returns in a fully redesigned third edition, featuring nearly 150 alphabetical entries-30 of them entirely new, and others updated-that explain the who, when, where, and what of postwar and contemporary art, from Abstract Expressionism to zeitgeist. These concise essays on key artistic terms are written with wit and common sense by veteran art historian and critic Robert Atkins, who also provides a year-by-year timeline of world and art-world events from 1945 to the present. Some 80 images, most in full colour, illustrate iconic works of the movements discussed, making ArtSpeak a visual as well as a textual reference. The new terms in this edition of "ArtSpeak" include not only recent movements, such as the Leipzig School and San Francisco's Mission School, but also past movements that have attained a new critical prominence, such as Japan's Mono-ha group and Brazilian Neoconcretism. Also discussed are the growing constellation of new media and intermedia practices, the social and economic structures of the art world, and the theoretical concepts that interest artists and critics today. Particular attention is given to the key terms of contemporary Chinese art-from Rustic Realism to Political Pop-reflecting China's growing importance on the global scene. Long established as an indispensable reference for art-world neophytes and seasoned professionals alike, "ArtSpeak" will continue to attract a broad and appreciative audience in this attractive new edition. AUTHOR: Robert Atkins, an art historian and writer, is a frequent contributor to Art in America and a former staff columnist for the Village Voice. Atkins is an authority on digital art, queer art and culture, and Chinese contemporary art. He is a pioneering online media producer and a founding member of Visual AIDS, creators of Day With(out) Art and the Red Ribbon. His other books include "ArtSpoke" and Censoring Culture. 80 illustrations
Industry Reviews
"In this important update of ArtSpeak, Atkins again offers reliable, succinct definitions of some 150 art terms, ideas, and movements, outlined in an easy-to-read, uniform format that gives the who, when, where, and what. Summing Up: Highly recommended." --CHOICE "In the end, ArtSpeak is informative and readable, a friendly invitation to better understand the language of contemporary art. Over its history, the book has transmuted from more or less a dictionary of terms into a relatively comprehensive survey of twenty-five years of art. Now, don't you want clearer understanding of movement Mono-ha?" --Rain Taxi Review of Books "The writing is simple, direct, nonjudgmental, and succinct. An essential update." --Library Journal, starred review "[ArtSpeak is] where you go to find out, quickly and clearly, what Semiotics means... It offers handy short takes on terms like commodification and formalism, along with the who, when, where, and sometimes why of Neo Dada, Neo-Expressionism, Neo-Geo, New Image, the New Leipzig school, New media, New Realism, New Wave, Nouveau Realisme, Socialist Realism, Social Realism, Social Practice, Space Art, and Spatialism, to name some more of the 146 categories in the book. It also explains what separates Pathetic Art from kitsch, and how Abject Expressionism differs from Abstract Expressionism." --ARTnews Praise for the previous editions: "From appropriation to manipulated photography to trans-avant garde, this handbook defines all the terms needed to sound au courant in the art world." --Village Voice "A must-have book for students, artists, collectors, and other interested observers." --Hartford Courant "A great book to take to the art museum." --Chicago Tribune "This is the book to carry on your next gallery crawl." --Art and Auction
