- Hardcover: 656 pages
- Publisher: Phaidon Press Ltd (31 Oct 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0714839248
- ISBN-13: 978-0714839240
- Product Dimensions: 33 x 19 x 6.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 248,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
A pillow? Possibly a medical sample? Or a conceptual gimmick? Suggesting the impermanence of perishable goods, once you remove this sequel to 1998's Cream from its plastic inflatable packaging and expose it to the air, a zeitgeist stopwatch starts to tick away. Bearing the dimensions and solidity of one of Carl Andre's infamous bricks, it showcases an orgy of emerging contemporary artists in the same way that 10 x 10 surveyed cutting-edge architecture. An introductory essay sees the 10 curators, under the stewardship of the Head of Exhibitions and Display at the Tate Modern, Iwona Blazwick, discuss via the Internet the criteria behind their selections. There is much talk of the YBAs (Young British Artists) and the London scene, but there are few British artists featured, though the satirical whimsy of David Shrigley (The Beast Is Near) merits strategic inclusion. Following 10 pieces of post-1990 writing selected by each curator, ranging from philosophical extracts to poetry, fiction and Cuban rock lyrics, comes the "exhibition-in-a-book", arranged in alphabetical order. While few of the "fresh cream" included here can be said to have yet risen to the top internationally (apart from the 2000 Turner Prize-winning photographer Wolfgang Tillmans), the breadth of vision encompassed is predictably vast: South America, the Far East and the former Eastern Europe feature heavily, with media including photography, video, sculpture, paper cut-outs, food, pipe-cleaners and even painting--occasionally. Although formidably disparate at first, glimpses of themes develop. Performance, masks, the timelessness of human physical form, site-specific creation and cultural consciousness recurrently surface, in art as diverse as Mexican "Acne Art", Jane Alexander's humanimals, Janet Cardiff's sculpted "walks" and Orla Barry's studies of seaside boulders. Inevitably a few may recede like so much froth, but the curatorship proves consistently thoughtful, personal and engaging, and should be applauded (along with publisher Phaidon) for facilitating a crucial platform from which to view these thriving worlds that lie outside the artistic mainstream. --David Vincent
Product Description
A sequel to "Cream", this book presents new work by 100 new artists, selected by ten curators, providing a global overview of the contemporary art world. Arranged A-Z, numerous examples of each artist's work is featured alongside a brief text from the curator, and biographical information about the artist. A conversation on the Internet between the ten curators gives an insight into their curatorial practice. The cultural context in which the artists work - from philosophy, to fiction or theory - is presented by 10 contemporary writers. These are accompanied by a short blurb by each curator explaining their choice of text.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WoW A book that is facinating and an artwork in itself!!!,
This review is from: Fresh Cream (Hardcover)
This book is brilliant! This book is beautiful! You should own this book!Its packaging is amazing it comes in a kind of infatable bubble/pillow with the books blurb on the back, which after staring at it in awe for 20 minutes presents you with a problem, do you now cut it open to read the book or leave it in the bubble where it just looks amazing(youve got to love art to understand this predicament). I chose the first option to cut it open and im happy to say it was the right dicision. The book inside is inspirational, i must say though that the art in this book is very contemporary and you need an open mind to enjoy it, with that said it is truely fascinating with great pictures that have good detail and clear images. Each the 100 artists featured in the book have a short yet imfortmative piece written about them before displaying the best of their work. If you are a true contemporary art fan this book is for you. if you are a true fan of beautifully made books this book is for you. and a final point i must make is this book really lives up to its name the art inside is definately FRESH and the artists it features are definately the CREAM of the crop.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An inspiring range of work by artists who break boundaries.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Fresh Cream (Hardcover)
The first thing to catch my interest was, of course, the packaging. This alone drew my attention. However, the inflated wrap and somewhat plain cover do not bespeak the boldness of images within. And that is the main strength of this contemporary art book; the beautifully reproduced, strikingly diverse images - everything from stills of Doug Aitken's video work to sculptures by Takashi Murakami. The 'conversations' of each curator are equally refreshing in their enigmatic discussion of art history and art practice. For each of the one hundred artists there is a brief synopsis of their work - motivations, intentions and directions - as well as a summary of each artist's curriculum vitae. The text is brief and accessible and, like the work, is a great source of inspiration. However, it is important to remember that, as with any collection of contemporary art, each work should be weighed up by individual merits (whether its the medium being used or the cultural context). Once again, the text is invaluable as a guide for understanding and appreciating each work. Enjoy!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.8 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews) 13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Soft Pillow,
By Lance Arthur - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Fresh Cream (Hardcover)
Phaidon Press constantly surprises and delights not only with the content of their art books, but also in their presentation and form. FreshCream is no different. Enclosed inside an inflatable see-through pillow you'll be hard-pressed to want to sever to get inside, the book chronicles contemporary art through a variety of artists selected by a varied panel of experts. The works range across the gamut from performance works to paint and multimedia, with excellent examples across the landscape of what art is today. The book uses itself as a jumping off point for the discussion, closing itself in its invisible plastic wrap as if to illustrate modern's arts many facets; impenetrability, transition, meaning, transparency, metaphysics and weightiness.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
To cut, or not to cut.,
By Antonio A. Urdiales "ethical void" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Fresh Cream (Hardcover)
The Cream series by Phaidon has become almost as important to the artworld as any major biennial, and the introduction of any new book usually is on the lips of the art glitterati for months afterwards. Obviously because the curators who pick out the artists in the Cream series are very good at picking out artists who usually go onto have important careers on the international scene. For anyone interested in the future of the artworld, the Cream series is your best bet. Nothing has so accurately predicted what we will be looking at. This Cream is no exception to the fineness of the series. Phaidon has continually pushed the envelope in the presentation of their works, this Cream comes in a lusciously weird plastic bubble which begs to be a work unto itself. I debated for days on whether to cut it open or just buy another one. In the end I settled for photographic documentation and subsequent vivisection. The book itself is absolutely stunning. True to it's namesake it comes in a creamy faux leather bound cover with the most subtle augmentations in its construction, itself resembles an alien product. The pictures are terrific and take up easily 95% of the book, biographies preseding the works of the artists, most of whom are exceptional. The curators didn't make the mistake of falling into rubbish and filling the book with to much colorful pop oriented tripe like most artbooks these days. Many curators make the mistake of thinking that if they make it look like Las Vegas the artworld will come, and for the most part that is very true, but that would just be inappropriate for the study Phaidon wants to make. If you're looking for something outrageous I recommend anything associated with Saatchi or Deitch. The curators made a great attempt at displaying really thought provoking work which fits nicely into a dialogue on the state and future of the international art scene. This is an absolutely beautiful and important book and great for any serious follower of the contemporary art scene.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ooh, La La!!,
By Grasshopper - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Fresh Cream (Hardcover)
Rarely does a book's presentation make you squeal before you actually open it, but WOW!!! Don't buy this one used if you can help it! It comes packaged in it's very own blow-up pillow, and unless you know something I don't know, you have to destroy the pretty packaging in order to look inside!The book itself is several years out of date now, but still remains one of my top favorite resources for contemporary visual and performance art. Always filled with unique and exciting imagery from around the globe, the Phaidon Cream series is rich in content, as well as presentation!! |
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