Tabish Khan the @LondonArtCritic takes a break from exhibitions to recommend his top art books to read. Each comes with a concise review to help you decide whether it’s for you.
Artists of the Middle East: 1900 to Now by Saeb Eigner, published by Thames & Hudson
This look back across 125 years of Middle Eastern art features familiar names, including Mona Hatoum and Shirin Neshat. However, it also includes a host of names that should be familiar to an art crowd but may not be. It’s why this book is vital in shining a light on artists who deserve greater recognition in the Western world.
Great Art Explained by James Payne, published by Thames & Hudson in October
James Payne is the creator of the fantastic YouTube channel where art masterpieces are clearly explained. It’s now in book form as he writes about the context and art historical significance of masterpieces by JMW Turner, Frida Kahlo, Hokusai, Hilma Af Klint and many more.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, published by Canongate Books
This is a beautifully written self-help book on how to live and practice as an artist. It’s both about the mindset of being an artist and how to put that mindset into practice. It can get repetitive, and I had heard a lot of it before, but it’s still an essential read for creatives who often feel like they’re going it alone.
Pissing Women by Sophy Rickett, published by Cheerio in September
You may not have heard of Sophy Rickett, but you most likely have seen her iconic image of a woman urinating while standing on Vauxhall Bridge in late-night London. She takes the place and space of men to make a statement about how this behaviour is deemed far more acceptable in men. This book accompanies these images with thought-provoking essays and interviews with curators and artists discussing the significance of this series.
What is art for? By Ben Luke, published by Heni
What makes artists tick? What other art inspires them? Why is art important? Ben Luke asks them these meaty questions, and it’s all artists he’s interviewed for The Art Newspaper’s ‘A Brush With’ podcast. The impressive names in the book include Cornelia Parker, Jeremy Deller, Dayanita Singh, Do Ho Suh and Michael Armitage.
Lessons for Young Artists by David Gentleman, published by Particular Books
This is a simple and important how-to guide for those starting on their creative journey, written by artist-illustrator David Gentleman, famous for the Charing Cross murals, among many other notable projects. It shows readers how to get the creative juices flowing, the process itself, and how to continue drawing inspiration from everything around them.
Can the Seas Survive Us? Edited by Tania Moore and John Kenneth Paranada, published by Kulturalis
This exhibition catalogue contains thoughtful essays and poetry that add an extra layer to the excellent exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich. The approach makes it stand out from traditional exhibition books, and I love the concept of the museum having a theme for each season that asks a significant question that’s on all our minds.
Artists of the Middle East image: © Shirin Neshat. Courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery, New York. Great Art Explained image copyright The National Gallery. Pissing Women image © Sophy Rickett / Cheerio Publishing. What is art for? Image © Michael Armitage. Photo © White Cube (George Darrell).
