Never, according to an article by the art critic Louisa Buck in the Evening Standard magazine last year, has the following quotation from US Museum Director Thomas Hoving, seemed more apt: "Art is sexy! Art is money-sexy! Art is money-sexy-social-climbing-fantastic!"
This book will provide an introduction to British art, in all its money-sexy glory, from the YBAs to the present. Grant Pooke's study explores key themes in British art practice: autobiographical art, the abject, mutability and death, through a discussion of the work of key artists and art movements, including Michael Landy, Lucian Freud, Sam Taylor-Wood, Damien Hirst, Rachel Whiteread and Anthony Gormley. A range of art forms, from painting and sculpture to video and installation art will be addressed.