Books

April

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The Art of Not Making
The New Artist/Artisan Relationship
Michael Petry

Can an artist claim that an object is a work of art if it has been made for him or her by someone else? If so, who is the ‘author’ of such a work? And just what is the difference between a work of art and a work of craft? The Art of Not Making is the first book to tackle these questions head on, exploring the concepts of authorship, artistic originality, skill, craftsmanship and the creative act. It highlights the vital role that skills from craft and industrial production play in creating some of today’s most innovative and highly sought-after works of art. Michael Petry gives insights into the history of these collaborations, citing works from Duchamp and before, and giving a context to the growing global collaborations of artists and artisans.

Featuring interviews with artists and craftspersons about their creative collaborations, The Art of Not Making also includes analyses and illustrations of hundreds of artworks by many important international artists, including Louise Bourgeois, Matthew Barney, Grayson Perry, Mona Hatoum, Ai Weiwei, Mark Wallinger, Kiki Smith, Fred Wilson, Pae White, Tony Cragg, Roni Horn, Liam Gillick, Sherrie Levine, Ugo Rondionone and Maurizio Cattelan.

‘Glorious’ - Harper’s Bazaar

‘Enjoyable … Petry clearly knows his stuff’ - Art Quarterly

‘The arguments presented in this glossy, erudite book are bold,
intriguing...beautiful’ - Gay Times

Author
Michael Petry is an artist, author and guest Lecturer at the Royal
Academy Schools and Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, London. He is the author of many books, including Installation Art in the New Millennium and Installation Art, both published by Thames & Hudson.

Extent
208pp

Size
27.5 x 23.0cm

Illustrations
324 illustrations, 318 in colour

Binding
Paperback

Price
£19.95

ISBN 978 0 500 290262