Composition: Uncover the ideas behind great works of modern art

Description

The rules of composition have changed. Discover the new ideas that shape the art we make today. Art has changed beyond recognition since the principles of harmonious composition were established in classical times. From the invention of photography to the digital revolution, technological and social advances have transformed the way we see the world. This new vision, influenced by changing attitudes not least towards gender roles and the West's colonial history, is reflected in the art we make. From the rejection of Western compositional orthodoxy by artists such as Edouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh and Mary Cassatt to the revolutionary practices of Jean- Michel Basquiat, Tania Bruguera, Meleko Mokgosi and many others, acclaimed art critic and writer Michael Archer reveals the ideas and intentions behind a thrillingly diverse selection of artworks, giving readers a new set of tools for understanding art today.

Michael Archer is a Professor of Art at Goldsmiths, teaching critical studies and art and design history and theory, as well as a widely published critic and art writer. His work has appeared in newspapers and journals including Artforum, Art Monthly, Frieze, Parkett and the Guardian and in numerous catalogues. He is the author of Art Since 1960 (Thames & Hudson 1997/2002, new edition forthcoming), and contributed chapters on modern and contemporary art to Hugh Honour and John Fleming's A World History of Art (Laurence King 2009). He holds a BA in History of Art from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Aesthetic Education from Manchester University.