Blind HandshakeThe art criticism of the painter David Humphrey merits an anthology. But neither Humphrey nor Periscope wanted to present his writing as archival documents from 1990 to 2008. We decided it would be more innovative to treat the texts as the starting point for a book that acknowledges and extends the connections between Humphrey's studio practice and his criticism. The outcome is Blind Handshake. It foregrounds the social life surrounding contemporary art-the practices and gestures, the dialogues and monologues that determine its place in the world. Organized thematically, the book considers Coupling Dramas, Unknowable Others, Collective Solitudes, Prosthetic Selves, and Good Liars. Artists drawn into the action include Richard Prince, Chris Ofili, Lucien Freud, Mamma Anderson, Tony Oursler, John Currin, Mary Heilmann, Catherine Murphy, and Amy Sillman. The book's designer Geoff Kaplan employed aspects of graphic novels, magazine layouts, and art monographs in translating the writing and illustrations into a mutant creature. Introductions by Chris Kraus and Alexi Worth provide contexts for understanding the book's presentation of the turbulent intersubjectivity that pervades contemporary art. AUTHOR: David Humphrey Has exhibited his art throughout the United States and curated several shows in New York City. He is a recipient of the Rome Prize and a Senior Critic at the Yale School of Art. His art criticism has appeared in Art in America, Art issues, among other publications. ILLUSTRATIONS 176 colour images * |
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abstract acrylic acts animal appear Art issues artist and Sikkema artworks asks associations attention beauty become body building called character collection colored comic contemporary continue conventional Courtesy the artist culture David Humphrey depicted describe desire detail drawings effect evidence exercise eyes face feel fiction figures frame Gallery give hair hand head images imagination inches James John labors language light lines living look marks material matter meaning narrative nature Nixon objects oil on canvas organized original Page paintings past performs perhaps person Photo photographs piece placed plastic play Portrait practice present produce reflect relation rendered representation Richard role sculpture seems seen sense shapes Sikkema Jenkins social sometimes space speak story studio subjects suggests surface things tion touch tree turn Untitled various wall wood writing