An Atlas of Es Devlin

Es Devlin is an artist who works in a variety of mediums, including art, activism, theatre, poetry, music, dance, opera, and sculpture. Her work is based on a life-long practice of reading and drawing, and she has created some of the most iconic, large-scale, multi-disciplinary cultural manifestations in recent times. An Atlas of Es Devlin, the first monograph on her practice, is an experiential publication that includes over 700 color images documenting over 120 projects spanning over 30 years, as well as a 50,000-word text featuring the artist's personal commentaries on each art work and interviews with her collaborators.

Format: Hardback
Length: 866 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Es Devlin, a multi-talented artist whose work defies categorization, is the subject of the first monograph, "An Atlas of Es Devlin." This experiential publication encompasses a wide range of artistic mediums, including art, activism, theatre, poetry, music, dance, opera, and sculpture. Devlin's artistic journey is deeply rooted in a lifelong practice of reading and drawing, from the margins of various texts such as poetry, drama, song lyrics, opera libretti, climate reports, and endangered species lists. From these humble beginnings, she has created technically advanced, collectively imagined universes that have earned her global recognition.

Fragile miniature paintings, paper cuts, and small mechanical cardboard models serve as the seeds for some of the most iconic and awe-inspiring cultural manifestations in recent history. These include public sculptures and installations at prestigious institutions like Tate Modern, Serpentine, V&A, Barbican, Imperial War Museum, and the Lincoln Center. They also include kinetic stage designs for renowned opera houses, ballet companies, and theaters, such as the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and the National Theatre. Additionally, Devlin's work has been featured in Olympic Ceremonies, Super-Bowl half-time shows, and monumental illuminated stage sculptures for artists like Beyonce, The Weeknd, U2, Rosalía, Dr. Dre, and Kendrick Lamar.

What sets Devlin's work apart is its unique blend of personal expression and collective impact. Over the past decade, her art practice has delved into themes of biodiversity, linguistic diversity, and collective AI-generated poetry. She views the audience as a temporary society and encourages profound cognitive shifts by inviting public participation in communal choral works.

Published in association with a retrospective exhibition opening at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York in November 2023, "An Atlas of Es Devlin" is a remarkable sculptural volume of over 900 pages. It features foldouts, cut-outs, and a diverse range of paper types, mirror and translucencies, accompanied by over 700 color images that document Devlin's extensive body of work. This comprehensive atlas offers a deep insight into the artist's creative process and the profound impact her work has had on the cultural landscape.

In conclusion, "An Atlas of Es Devlin" is a groundbreaking monograph that celebrates the extraordinary talent and visionary spirit of Es Devlin. It showcases her protean work as a multi-disciplinary artist, highlighting the profound impact her creations have had on art, activism, and society as a whole. Through its immersive format and comprehensive documentation, this book serves as a testament to Devlin's enduring legacy and the power of artistic expression to inspire and transform.

Weight: 2534g
Dimension: 281 x 265 x 77 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500023181