Reflections on Art and Culture

Reviews / Votes

In her newest book, Reflections on Art and Culture, noted art historian and author, Claudia Moscovici shines a fascinating light on the nature of the art world in the first quarter of the 21st Century. Presenting superb historical research, and combining it with unique aesthetic insights, Dr. Moscovici has created a refreshing and lively narrative. Her analysis of numerous artists as diverse in style and philosophy, as Damien Hirst and M.C. Escher, sets the stage for her compelling arguments about the elite art world and its potential reconciliation with art that continues to seek aesthetic beauty, and appeals so fervently to the broad public. Her thoughts in this compelling book have opened a new dimension for us to absorb and contemplate our contemporary world, as art intersects with technology, newly emerging collaborative 'salons' and the age-old canons of aesthetic philosophy. Ultimately, in this engaging read, her insights suggest where we may be headed, as art continues to evolve in our transformative time of human history. -- Morris Shapiro, Senior Gallery Director, Park West Gallery In this intellectually bold and expansive study, Claudia Moscovici offers the 'textual embodiment of a culture salon' in her exploration of the history of art salons, an analysis of two current salons (one digital and one floating), and her own showcase of artists who represent a range of contemporary artistic trends. Moscovici deftly argues that artistic freedom does not solely entail the freedom to create but also the freedom to have one's works available to the public. Throughout, the book makes a case for the philosophic importance of art for a meaningful life and particularly for the role of emotion, passion and sensuality in art. The writing is clear and compelling, and any reader from the art novice to the art expert would find the book illuminating. -- Natalie McKnight, Dean and Professor of Humanities, The College of General Studies, Boston University What does the art world need today? At a time when the fields of knowledge are becoming increasingly specialized, and the trends promoted by major galleries and museums are becoming more and more standardized, art critic Claudia Moscovici compellingly argues for the necessity of new cultural spaces that can provide a much-needed forum for a diverse range of artists and artistic trends, while giving the public the chance to consider them. Her bookcelebrates aesthetic pluralism, drawing inspiration from 18th and 19th century French culture salons and the art criticism of notable writers such as Denis Diderot and Emile Zola. With her vivid, clear and precise style, and her ability to make apt comparisons, Claudia Moscovici takes us into the worlds of some of the most fascinating contemporary international artists. Her lucid and passionate appreciation of their works draws upon a vast cultural background and manifests an extraordinary aesthetic sensibility. In a versatile fashion, the author presents the works of artists working in a wide range of artistic and intellectual fields, including photography, theater, literature, poetry, mathematics and philosophy. This interdisciplinarity in action, as well as the author's commitment to innovative artistic initiatives interpreted as forms of 'modern culture salons,' make this book an eloquent manifestation of a new Enlightenment spirit. -- Matthieu Binder, editor and founder of Litteraturefrancaise.net