Publication date:
01 February 2019Publisher
Intellect BooksDimensions:
244x170mm7x10"
ISBN-13: 9781783209408
By paying tribute to matter, materiality and materialisation, the examples of contemporary art assembled in What’s Next? Eco Materialism and Contemporary Art challenge the social, cultural and ethical norms that prevailed in the twentieth century. This significant frontier of contemporary culture is identified as Eco Materialism because it affirms the emergent philosophy of Neo Materialism and attends to the pragmatic urgency of environmentalism.
In this highly original book, Linda Weintraub surveys the work of 40 international artists who present materiality as a strategy to convert society’s environmental neglect into responsible stewardship. These bold art initiatives, enriched by their associations with philosophy, ecology and cultural critique, bear the hallmark of a significant new art movement. This accessible text, written for students and a wider readership, is augmented with interactive opportunities that actuate eco material attitudes and behaviours. They invite readers to engage in this timely arena of contemporary art.
Printed in high quality black and white throughout, colour reproductions of the artworks discussed are available to view through the author's website.
'A timely contribution, both to the burgeoning philosophical movement of new materialism, and to a renewed consideration of materiality in contemporary art-making practices, which since the 1960s have increasingly withdrawn from the material conventions of traditional media. What results from Weintraub’s efforts is a wide-ranging and fascinating [...] exploration of future-oriented artists experimenting at the vital intersections of philosophy, environmentalism, and art. [...] The sheer range of artists and eco material practices that Weintraub has assembled in What’s Next? is astonishing, and alone makes the volume a valuable addition to art and environmental humanities collections.'