Is being an artist a radical form of entrepreneurship or a vocational calling like the priesthood? Is it an extension of philosophy or an offshoot of entertainment? In three richly interlinked but distinct 'acts'
- Politics Kinship & Craft
- Sarah Thornton compares & contrasts answers to the simple but profound question what is an artist? 33 Artists in 3 Acts draws on hundreds of personal encounters with the world's most important artists to ask what it means to be making artworks in different parts of the world today With Thornton as expert guide & trusted insider we have unprecedented access to the lives of the artists from late-night Skype chats with Ai Weiwei to taxi rides with Maurizio Cattelan on the way to & from the show that announces his death We join Thornton as she rummages through artists' studios homes & solo shows inquiring about everything from their bank accounts to their bedrooms The result is a series of cinematic experiences which juxtapose artists in thought-provoking ways & build up narratives that end with epiphanies 33 Artists in 3 Acts is a generational touchstone a powerful triptych & gripping anti-monograph about truth integrity credibility & recognition Essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary art this masterful act of storytelling will also delight any reader seeking to understand creative lives