Overview
Postmodern Ceramics provides a stunning international overview of the richness and diversity of ceramic art since c. 1980. Mark Del Vecchio surveys the achievement of over 130 masters of contemporary ceramics from more than twenty-five countries, among them Ralph Bacerra, Adrian Saxe, Betty Woodman, Akio Takamori, and Andrew Lord, analyzing their various approaches by presenting the work in twelve themes: the postmodern look; post-minimalism; pattern and decoration; the multiple vessel; organic abstraction; the real/super-real; history, culture, and time; the image and the vessel; the vessel as image; figural sculpture; abstract sculpture; and post-industrialism. Garth Clark, perhaps the best-known ceramic historian in the world, shows in his Introduction how this great burst of creative energy and innovation provided an escape route from the unconsummated, antagonistic, and demoralizing relationship that had existed between ceramics and modernism.Complete with illustrated biographies of each of the artists and a detailed bibliography, the book brims with colorful ceramics and provides the depth of information necessary for it to become the standard reference work for professionals and amateurs, makers and collectors.
Synopsis
Del Vecchio has been a leading promoter of ceramics scholarship for 20 years. Here he presents a survey of 130-plus international, contemporary masters of ceramics of the past two decades, whose work actively engages with one or another of postmodernism's many agendas. The works are grouped within 12 themes: the postmodern look; post- minimalism; pattern and decoration; the multiple vessel; organic abstraction; the real/super-real; history, culture, and time; the image and the vessel; the vessel as image; figural sculpture; abstract sculpture; and post-industrialism. A detailed biography is provided for each artist. With 327 illustrations, 247 in color, this text will appeal to professionals and amateurs, makers and collectors. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR