| Synopsis: |
The second half of the 20th century has seen British artists, architects and designers assuming a central role on the world stage. In the years after the war, the young began to challenge accepted artistic values, looking at popular culture for their inspiration. The iconoclasm of the pop movement has continued to be one of the vital ingredients of the British art scene. In the year-by-year record provided in this volume, are connections and contradictions across the entire visual scene - from architecture, interior design, furniture and the decorative arts to painting, sculpture and graphic art. Text by Michael Raeburn and colour illustrations explore the many factors that have contributed to the special character of British art. The response of artists to influences such as fashion and pop music, the system of artists teaching in British art schools, political and social developments, has opened avenues for future development. The book is organized by decade, and the achievements of each are highlighted by statements from a distinguished group of artists, designers, collectors and critics who have contributed to the decade.The work of more than 250 artists is featured, including Henry Moore, David Hockney, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, James Stirling, Richard Rogers, Neville Brody and Damien Hirst. |