This Is Modern Art [With Flaps]

Excellent view of modern art in the United States as well as England and Europe. I also enjoyed the illistrations.

As an antidote to art jargon that passes as "writing" whether in ART FORUM or in catalogues, Mr Collings' book is a refreshing RELIEF. Well illustrated examples which illuminate his arguments, clear division into six sections, and an open-endedness to many issues make this a very enjoyable and informative read for the lay person who loves art. I'm immediately passing it on to one of the people I value most in the world - my 17 year old son. Is there a better recommendation?

This is very idiosyncratic look at art today, and in it, Matthew Collings chooses several issues about art to discuss: Shock, beauty, emptiness of meaning, humor, and the present. His writing can be annoying, sounding almost like Warhol in his "Philosophy of Andy Warhol" with short, witty, curious phrases, and a distant, ironic humor that can sound condescending or careless. Still, it turns out to be insightful and entertaining, and even informative. It isn't that you learn something profound about how to see art or understand it. Rather, it's like having a conversation (albeit one way) about art and particular artworks with someone who has a lot of knowledge about art and is often very perceptive. Along the way, you learn about recent artists such as Chris Ofili, Sigmar Polke, and Richard Prince, as well as past artists like Pollock, Picasso, and Goya. The pictures are good too. But it's just a fun look into the issues that modern (or post-modern) art tries to tackle, and some things to think about the next time you visit a modern art museum. Again, it's idiosyncratic and personal, so it's only one person's take on artists and art.

... I was a bit perplexed to discover accusations of "bias" [by others]. What were people expecting? The evening news? Journalism? Collings approaches his subject - the evolution of modern art and the context of contemporary British artists - from an informed, but highly personal point of view. Pretty much like Clement Greenburg or Robert Hughes or any of the other hundreds of critics with a case to make... Collings's writing is witty, erudite and can, in the turn of one sentence or a single carefully chosen word, create an entirely new way of looking at familiar art works. Not everyone is going to agree that Basquiat is great or that certain UK artists aren't very good - but what the hell - it's just one man's opinion. In light of the orthodox, conservative and sometimes downright reactionary points of view put forward by tv art critics and book authors, Collings is a fresh voice with something to say. That's very rare in any writer and, in the art world, as rare as genius itself.

This book is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in the exploding modern art scene.Collings is based in London, and with it's recently opened Tate Modern museum of Contemporary Art the content of this book seems even more appropriate.Irreverant, humorous, fact-packed, entertaining and controversial, this book will lead you from Klein to Hirst to Picasso and back on a non-stop, roller coaster ride. Buy it.