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Ornament and Crime

 - Ornament and Crime
This catalogue accompanies the group exhibition curated by Meg O'Rourke at Eykyn Maclean gallery in New York. With Viennese architect Adolf Loos's eponymous 1908 diatribe against excessive ornamentation as its guide, the exhibition draws on the tenets set forth by Loos—simplicity, purity, freedom—with particular attention to their philosophical implications and their persistence into the latter twentieth century.
The catalogue traces a genealogy of form from the dogmatism of Loos and Piet Mondrian; to the experimental systems of Yves Klein, the Zero group, and Ad Reinhardt; and finally, to the austere formalism of Minimalism and Arte Povera. When superficial surfaces and superfluous decorations are stripped away, the unknown is opened up—into the void, that is, what lies beyond the surface; down to the elemental, a deeper engagement with material that exceeds mere abstraction; and toward the eternal, where aesthetic asceticism points toward spiritual and psychic transcendance. The texts comprise an introduction by Meg O'Rourke, an historical essay by Lynn Zelevansky, a creative abecedarium by Caroline Weber, and an interview with Carl Andre conducted by O'Rourke and Thea Westreich. They offer historical context and draw out the resonances between the artworks represented, which are included here in full-color standalone and installation views.
Published following the eponymous exhibition at Eykyn Maclean, New York, from May 2 to June 15, 2018.

Meg O'Rourke is an independent curator and art advisor.
Edited by Meg O'Rourke.
Introduction by Meg O'Rourke.
Contributions by Caroline Weber, Lynn Zelevansky, interview with Carl Andre by Meg O'Rourke and Thea Westreich.

Graphic design: A Practice for Everyday Life.
 
published in February 2019
English edition
23 x 27,5 cm (hardcover)
92 pages (32 color ill.)
 
26.00
 
ISBN : 978-3-95679-409-4
EAN : 9783956794094
 
currently out of stock
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