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Art Crazy Nation: The Post-Blimey London Artworld
Art Crazy Nation The PostBlimey London Artworld Author:Matthew Collings This long-awaited sequel to Matthew Collings's hugely successful portrait of the British art world, "Blimey!" brings us up-to-date in a world that has changed immeasurably since 1997. Not least of all because of "Blimey's" publication, the Young British Artists who were the focus of that book have gone on to become huge stars in the internationa... more »l scene: they have starred in their own news-making exhibition, "Sensation", which nearly brought the art establishment, to say nothing of the borough of Brooklyn and the mayor of New York City, to its knees; artists like Gary Hume, Tracey Emin, and Chris Ofili have become media celebrities; and "insider" gossip isn't insider anymore but covered in the newspapers and television on a regular basis. "Art Crazy Nation" brings us up to date with Collings's much-imitated, never-duplicated style: his skewed scenarios, autobiographical blips, personal observations, off-kilter but strangely precise judgments, and more. The old characters will reappear, but they are no longer the main focus. What's new and what's next are his questions, questions he answers with his seemingly blithe but in truth penetrating wit and style. "Art Crazy Nation" will have the same boldness of design; cool photographs of people, places, and art; and a mixture of grungy realism and glamour for which Matthew Collings has become famous. Praise for Matthew Collings: "Hilarious and horrible, intelligent and frightening, "Blimey!" is the book the art world deserves." --Adrian Searle, "The Guardian" "An acid farrago of anecdotes, capsule biographies and pithy critical assessments. ("It Hurts") is highly entertaining and informative." --"The New York Times" 180 color.