How to write about contemporary art: with 34 illustrations and 64 source texts

Contents

Introduction -- There is no single 'best' way to write about art -- 'International Art English' -- Anyone can learn to write competently about art -- Section One. The Job : Why Write About Contemporary Art? -- Explaining v. evaluating -- Art-words and artworks -- Artist/dealer/curator/critic/blogger/'Kunstworker'/journalist/historian -- Out of the blue : where art-criticism came from -- Art-writing sans frontières -- Section Two. The Practice : How to Write About Contemporary Art -- 'Fear is the root of bad writing' -- How to substantiate your ideas -- The audience : grounding specialists and non-specialists -- Practical 'how-to's -- Section Three. The Ropes : How to Write Contemporary Art Formats -- How to write an academic essay -- 'Explaining' texts -- 'Evaluating' texts -- How to write an artist's statement -- Writing formats compared : one artist, many writers -- Conclusion -- How to read about contemporary art -- Notes -- Resources.