Punk Art History: Artworks from the European No Future Generation

The book explores the punk movement of the 1970s to early 1980s as an art movement through archive research, interviews, and art historical analysis. It focuses on the concept of history and how punks rejected the tale of progress and prosperity. The materials covered include paintings, drawings, bricolages, collages, booklets, posters, zines, installations, sculptures, Super 8 films, documentation of performances and happenings, body art, and street art. The book is aimed at students and scholars of art, design, music, and performance history, but its accessible and playful style will also draw readers with an interest in punk, music, and urban histories.

Format: Hardback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2023
Publisher: Intellect Books

The punk movement of the 1970s to early 1980s is explored as an artistic movement through archival research, interviews, and art historical analysis. This movement encompassed various art forms, including pop, pain, poetry, presence, and a refusal to be the next art world avant-garde, instead opting to be the "rear-guard." The author, Skov, conducts personal interviews with punk art protagonists from various cities, including London, New York, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Berlin. These interviews include members of bands such as Die Tödliche Doris (The Deadly Doris), Værkstedet Værst (The Workshop Called Worst), Nina Sten-Knudsen, Marc Miller, Diana Ozon, Hugo Kaagman, and email correspondence with artists like Jon Savage, Anna Banana, and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge.

A significant portion of the discussed materials originate from the protagonists' private archives, providing a unique insight into their personal experiences and artistic contributions. Additionally, the book delves into some public and scandalous events, such as the Prostitution exhibition at the ICA in London in 1976 and the Die Große Untergangsshow (The Grand Downfall Show) in West-Berlin in 1981. These events showcase the rebellious nature of the punk movement and its willingness to challenge societal norms.

The examined materials encompass a wide range of artistic mediums, including paintings, drawings, bricolages, collages, booklets, posters, zines, installations, sculptures, Super 8 films, documentation of performances and happenings, body art, street art, and more. What emerges from this analysis is the crucial role of history in punk at that point in time. The punk movement's rejection of the narrative of progress and prosperity, as propagated on both sides of the iron curtain, is evident in punk visual art. Central to the book is the thesis that punks positioned themselves as the rear-guards, rather than the avant-gardes. This statement was made by Danish punks in 1981, when they referred to themselves as "bagtropperne." Behind the rear-guard watchword was the rejection of the inherent notion of progress that the avant-garde name carries.

The punk movement of the 1970s to early 1980s was a transformative era that challenged traditional art conventions and pushed the boundaries of creativity. Through the examination of archival materials, interviews, and art historical analysis, this book provides a comprehensive understanding of the punk movement as an artistic phenomenon. It sheds light on the personal experiences of punk artists, their contributions to the art world, and their rejection of the notion of progress. The punk movement's legacy continues to inspire and influence artists today, reminding us of the power of rebellion and the importance of challenging societal norms.

Weight: 752g
Dimension: 177 x 252 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789387476
Edition number: New ed