Midnight in the Kant Hotel: Art in Present Times

Midnight in the Kant Hotel is a collection of essays on contemporary art, written by curator Simon Mengham over twenty years. The essays explore the development of artists and the curator's role in showcasing their work, offering privileged perspectives and engaging with the objects themselves. The book covers themes such as domestic space, atrocity exhibitions, and the refugee aesthetic, featuring essays on artists such as Marc Atkins, Stephen Chambers, and Damien Hirst. Mengham emphasizes a dialogue with the work rather than the artist.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 310 pages
\n Publication date: 26 August 2021
\n Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd
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Midnight in the Kant Hotel is a captivating exploration of contemporary art, spanning a remarkable twenty years in its composition. The essays revisit the same artists as they evolve, following them through time and adopting different perspectives as both the author and the artists themselves develop. Mengham, a prominent curator, organizes exhibitions that play a crucial role in enhancing the understanding and appreciation of artworks.

Curating exhibitions offers a unique and privileged perspective, allowing the writer to engage deeply with the artworks. It involves touching, lifting, moving, and re-moving the objects, providing a profound experience that surpasses mere observation. Living with art is truly transformative, offering a profound connection and understanding that cannot be replicated through other means.

The book begins with thought-provoking themes, such as defining domestic space, exploring the impact of atrocity exhibitions, and delving into the refugee aesthetic. Subsequently, essays on individual artists are presented, offering in-depth insights into their works. These artists include Marc Atkins, Stephen Chambers, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tony Cragg, Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Anselm Kiefer, Laura Owens, Doris Salcedo, Agnes Thurnauer, Koen Vanmechelen, and Alison Wilding. Throughout the book, the author maintains a dialogue with the work itself, rather than solely focusing on the artist.

This approach allows the author to delve deeper into the meaning and significance of the artworks, shedding light on their cultural, social, and political contexts. It fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the artistic process, encouraging readers to engage with the art on a personal level. Midnight in the Kant Hotel is a testament to the power of curation and the enduring impact of contemporary art on our lives.

\n Weight: 388g\n
Dimension: 135 x 215 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781800171473\n \n