Overview
American video and installation artist Doug Aitken (b. 1968) exploded onto the international art scene with his multi-screen work electric earth at the Venice and Whitney Biennials in 1999. His videos' dream-like sequences rearrange the linear flow of narrative into a series of unforgettable, disjointed photographic tableaux. Aitken's work creates unexpected yet beautiful imagery that encircles the viewer and creates a suspended, hyper-real portrait of contemporary life.
Doug Aitken is part of Phaidon's Contemporary Artists series, a collection of the most comprehensive sourcebooks available on important contemporary artists. Each title features over 120 color illustrations documenting the artist's entire career to date. The monographs provide multiple perspectives on each artist's work through three newly commissioned texts: a survey text, which gives an overview of the artist's career; an interview with the artist; and a focus piece concentrating on a single work of art. Each book also includes an Artist's Choice text: a written piece from literature, philosophy, or science that has greatly influenced the artist. A selection of the artist's writings as well as a fully illustrated chronology complete the book.
Synopsis
American video and installation artist Doug Aitken (b. 1968) exploded onto the international art scene with his multi-screen work electric earth at the Venice and Whitney Biennials in 1999. His videos' dream-like sequences rearrange the linear flow of narrative into a series of unforgettable, disjointed photographic tableaux. Aitken's work creates unexpected yet beautiful imagery that encircles the viewer and creates a suspended, hyper-real portrait of contemporary life.
Doug Aitken is part of Phaidon's Contemporary Artists series, a collection of the most comprehensive sourcebooks available on important contemporary artists. Each title features over 120 color illustrations documenting the artist's entire career to date. The monographs provide multiple perspectives on each artist's work through three newly commissioned texts: a survey text, which gives an overview of the artist's career; an interview with the artist; and a focus piece concentrating on a single work of art. Each book also includes an Artist's Choice text: a written piece from literature, philosophy, or science that has greatly influenced the artist. A selection of the artist's writings as well as a fully illustrated chronology complete the book.