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Theory of the Rearguard
How to Survive Contemporary Art (and Almost Everything Else)
By: Iván De La Nuez
Paperback | 15 April 2025
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Cuban art critic and curator Ivan de la Nuez returns with an ironic epitaph for contemporary art.
Art criticism that examines contemporary art in the 21st century in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature.
"Ivan de la Nuez transforms art criticism into an artform." -Letras Libres
Cuban art critic and curator Ivan de la Nuez returns with an ironic epitaph for contemporary art.
Art criticism that examines contemporary art in the 21st century in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature.
"Ivan de la Nuez transforms art criticism into an artform." -Letras Libres
Theory of the Rearguard examines how contemporary art is in tension with survival, rather than in relation to life. In the twentieth century, Peter B rger's Theory of the Avant-Garde was a cult book focused on the two main tasks that art demanded at the time- to break its representation and to destroy the barrier that separated it from life.
Forty years later, The Theory of the Rearguard is an ironic manifesto about contemporary art and its failures, even though Ivan de la Nuez does not waste his time mourning it or disguising it. He argues that our times are not characterized by the distance between art and life, but by a tension between art and survival, which is the continuation of life by any means necessary.
In the twenty-first century, Ivan de la Nuez examines art in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature. This austere and sharp book-in which Duchamp stumbles upon Lupe, the revolution upon the museum, Paul Virilio upon Joan Fontcuberta or Fukuyama upon Michael Jackson-wonders if contemporary art will ever end. Because if it were mortal-"just as mortal as everything it invokes or examines under its magnifying glass"-de la Nuez argues would be worth writing an epitaph for it as he has done in this sparkling book of art criticism.
Art criticism that examines contemporary art in the 21st century in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature.
"Ivan de la Nuez transforms art criticism into an artform." -Letras Libres
Cuban art critic and curator Ivan de la Nuez returns with an ironic epitaph for contemporary art.
Art criticism that examines contemporary art in the 21st century in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature.
"Ivan de la Nuez transforms art criticism into an artform." -Letras Libres
Theory of the Rearguard examines how contemporary art is in tension with survival, rather than in relation to life. In the twentieth century, Peter B rger's Theory of the Avant-Garde was a cult book focused on the two main tasks that art demanded at the time- to break its representation and to destroy the barrier that separated it from life.
Forty years later, The Theory of the Rearguard is an ironic manifesto about contemporary art and its failures, even though Ivan de la Nuez does not waste his time mourning it or disguising it. He argues that our times are not characterized by the distance between art and life, but by a tension between art and survival, which is the continuation of life by any means necessary.
In the twenty-first century, Ivan de la Nuez examines art in relationship to politics, iconography, and literature. This austere and sharp book-in which Duchamp stumbles upon Lupe, the revolution upon the museum, Paul Virilio upon Joan Fontcuberta or Fukuyama upon Michael Jackson-wonders if contemporary art will ever end. Because if it were mortal-"just as mortal as everything it invokes or examines under its magnifying glass"-de la Nuez argues would be worth writing an epitaph for it as he has done in this sparkling book of art criticism.
ISBN: 9781644214619
ISBN-10: 164421461X
Available: 15th April 2025
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 96
Audience: General Adult
Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE US
Country of Publication: GB
Dimensions (cm): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1
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You Can Find This Book In
This product is categorised by
- Non-FictionArts & EntertainmentHistory of Art & Design StylesArt from 1900 to CurrentArt from 1960
- Non-FictionPolitics & GovernmentPolitical Structure & ProcessesConstitution & The Government & The State
- Non-FictionArts & EntertainmentHistory of Art & Design StylesArt from 1900 to CurrentArt from 1900 to 1960
- Non-FictionPolitics & GovernmentComparative Politics
- Non-FictionArts & EntertainmentGeneral Issues in ArtTheory of Art