Inspiring new art books
Every art student should investigate these titles in 2021
1
1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir by Ai Weiwei Out on 4 November, this hotly anticipated memoir arrives 10 years after the idea was first conceived by the artist and activist while being secretly detained for 81 days by the Chinese government. As he unravels the experiences that have fuelled both his creative career and political beliefs, Ai Weiwei celebrates the legacy of his father, the poet Ai Qing, and provides a portrait of modern China. Read for a deep dive into the influences and practices of an art world superstar. Vintage, £25. www.penguin.co.uk
2
What Artists Wear by Charlie Porter Described as “a kind of punk cousin to John Berger’s Ways of Seeing”, this gleeful read provides a journey through the iconic outfits worn by artists. From Yves Klein’s
spotless tailoring to the kaleidoscopic costumes of Yayoi Kusama to Andy Warhol’s signature denim, style luminary Charlie Porter picks out the magical details that reveal a new way of understanding artists. With generous photographic spreads, it’s not only an ode to the creatives we love but also an entreaty to find greater pleasure and possibility in the clothes we wear. Penguin, £14.99. www.penguin.co.uk
3
Women in the Picture: Women, Art and the Power of Looking by Catherine McCormack Art historian with attitude Catherine McCormack calls us to look again at some of the world’s much-loved artworks in this impassioned plea to free women from stifling archetypes. Not only does the book reconsider art history classics, from Titian and Botticelli to the Pre-Raphaelites and Picasso, it also shows how the likes of Berthe Morisot, Judy Chicago, Kara Walker and Beyoncé have offered new ways of thinking about women. Understanding how females have been objectified throughout
thousands of years of art is key to challenging the male-centric images that still persist in today’s culture. Icon Books, £12.99. www.iconbooks.com
4
Spring Cannot Be Cancelled: David Hockney in Normandy by Martin Gayford and David Hockney This joyful and uplifting manifesto affirming art’s capacity to divert and inspire is based on a wealth of new conversations between Hockney and his long-time friend and collaborator, art critic Martin Gayford. The exchanges are illustrated by the paintings and drawings Hockney created while spending lockdown in 2020 at his Normandy farmhouse. One of the greatest artists alive today, the octogenarian has much to teach us about how to see, as well as how to live. Thames & Hudson, £25. www.thamesand hudson.com
5
Bright Stars: Great Artists Who Died Too Young by Kate Bryan Most artists had decades to hone their craft, win over the critics and forge their reputation, but that’s not the case for the 30 artists in this book.
From art heavyweights Vincent van Gogh and Jean Michel Basquiat to those left out of history books, such as Amrita Sher-Gil and Charlotte Salomon, the life and legacy of the creative masters we lost too soon are examined by art expert and Sky Arts presenter Kate Bryan. With each artist comes a unique story about how lives full of talent and tragedy were turned into brilliant legacies that still influence and inspire our art today. It’s a reminder all great artists are immortal. Frances Lincoln, £16.99. www.quarto knows.com
From the creators of Artists & Illustrators_ArtStudent 17
