
Christopher Williams
The Production Line of Happiness
Yale University Press
Published on 13. May 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
186 pages
978-0-300-20390-5 (ISBN)
Description
A handsome volume charting the thirty-year career of a widely celebrated, American-born conceptual artist Representing Christopher Williams's first publication with a major American museum, this illuminating and unusual volume is equal parts artist's book and exhibition catalogue. Over the course of his thirty-year career, Williams (b. 1956) has crafted photographs that engage-often through uncanny mimicry-the conventions of photojournalism, picture archives, and commercial imagery, as well as their sociopolitical contexts and implications. The book includes a trio of essays by curators Mark Godfrey, Roxana Marcoci, and Matthew S. Witkovsky, which explore Williams's engagement with his artistic peers and predecessors, with cinema (particularly the film-essay), and with the methods and modes of display and publicity in the art world, in addition to a transcript of a talk Williams delivered on the work of John Chamberlain. These more conventional contributions are "interrupted" by additional historical and contemporary textual and visual materials that were selected by the artist himself and are occasionally presented in facsimile form.
An exhibition history, bibliography, and illustrated list of works round out the publication.
An exhibition history, bibliography, and illustrated list of works round out the publication.
Reviews / Votes
"For all of the layered complexity and bold non sequiturs of Williams' work, there is plenty of pure enjoyment to be had in 'The Production Line of Happiness' ... and in the accompanying catalogue-cum-artist's book."-Stephanie Murg, Wallpaper -- Stephanie Murg Wallpaper "[This exhibition] conveys the complexity of Mr. Williams's achievement and of art making itself with a wondrous lucidity. And just wait until you tackle the catalog."-Roberta Smith, New York Times -- Roberta Smith New York TimesMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
46 color + 77 b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 270 mm
Width: 216 mm
Weight
803 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-20390-5 (9780300203905)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Mark Godfrey is curator at the Tate Modern in London. Roxana Marcoci is senior curator in the department of photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Matthew S. Witkovsky is the Richard and Ellen Sandor Chair and Curator, department of photography, at the Art Institute of Chicago.