British Art of the Long 1980s
Imogen Racz, Bloomsbury
The sculptural history of the long 1980s has been dominated by New British Sculpture and Young British Artists. Arguing for a more expansive history of British sculpture and its supporting infrastructures, these twenty-three vivid and enthralling interviews with artists, curators, dealers and facilitators working then demonstrate the interconnected networks, diversity of ideas and practices, energy, imagination and determination that transformed British art from being marginal to internationally celebrated.
With a substantial introduction, this timely volume provides valuable new insights into the education, work, careers, studios, infrastructures and exhibitions of the artists and facilitators, substantially enlarging our understanding of the era.
Reviews
“Through twenty-three thoughtful interviews, Imogen Racz’s book surveys the legacies, wit, and energy of British art in the 1980s. The reflections of artists and producers narrate how this decade formed new networks and, importantly, how artists started to democratise art in Britain.” – Lisa Le Feuvre, Executive Director, Holt/Smithson Foundation, USA
“This immensely readable collection of interviews sheds light on an overlooked decade. Racz’s warm yet incisive questioning elicits enlightening responses, from astute analyses of individual practices to contextual reflections. A vibrant scene emerges, one fuelled by the actions of a wider network of protagonists than is often acknowledged.” – Natalie Rudd, Senior Curator, Arts Council Collection, UK
