designboom book report: andreas slominski

‘ohne titel’ (2000) by andreas slominskiimage © designboom

editors: ingvild goetz, karsten löckemann, stephan urbaschek publisher: hatje cantz language: german/english year: 2010 size: 144 pages, 178 x 247 mm ISBN: 978-3-7757-2603-0

http://www.hatjecantz.de/

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the grotesque sight of a stack towering implausible above low-rise buildings, defunct yet visually potent, forms the perfect backdrop for a work by andreas slominski. it is a fitting scene for an artist whose work regularly sets traps to undermine the viewer’s sense of security–aimed, according to many critics and curators, at derailing quotidian reality with out-of-kilter sculptures and occurrences.

content created in partnership with the goetz collection in munich, this monograph surveys the work of contemporary german artist andreas slominski, dating from from 1996 to present. slominski has produced pieces across disciplines like painting, assemblage, and performance: the book traces these shifts in mediums and progressively increasing scale through 98 full color photographs.

texts by larissa michelberger, birgit sonna, and katharina vossenkuhl, as well as the three editors provide critical insight into the themes which consistently appear in slominski’s work, such as engaging in direct dialogue with the public and using quotidian props as source material. frequently appropriating and repurposing found objects, the artist’s insertion of the ordinary into an artistic context elicits viewers to perceive the more absurd qualities of everyday life.

is it for me? if you enjoy humorous conceptual artwork in the tradition of duchamp, this book is for you. the monograph covers the breadth of slominski’s offbeat work and engages readers in questioning how art is defined and perceived.

‘wo sind die skier?’ (2000) image © designboom

(from left to right) ‘moulin rouge’ (2000) and ‘moulin rouge’ (2001) image © designboom

detail of ‘moulin rouge’ (2000) image © designboom

(from left to right) ‘mäusefalle’ (2004), ‘G AFRICA’ (2009), ‘pigsty’ (2010), ‘rattenfalle’ (2008) image © designboom

(left) ‘xJJy1z’ (2008/2010) (right) ‘xXy4z’ (2007/2010) image © designboom

(left) front cover (right) back cover image © designboom

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designboom ratings: interesting good read, worth a look very good excellent, recommended must have _________________________________________________________________________________________